Millions Spent Boarding up Homes as Families Languish on Waiting Lists

Councils are shelling out millions of pounds a year to secure and board up publicly-owned empty homes while two million families languish on waiting lists, it has emerged. The figures were revealed by Channel 4 in its Great British Property Scandal programme - part of a series addressing the nation's housing shortage. There are close to one million empty homes in the UK, with 350,000 of them vacant for six months or longer. In contrast, there are nearly two million families on the housing waiting list. The programme revealed that the councils who responded to its survey spent a total of £11 million last year securing and boarding up properties; with Liverpool City Council spending the most at £1.28 million. Read more on 24dash.