Your location: Lib Dems unveil housing plans
28 August 2008
Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesman Vince Cable has made a number of proposals to halt what he described as the 'downward spiral' of the housing market.
Mr Cable suggested that councils should be able to buy empty properties and unused land from developers at discount rates to use for social housing.
He also proposed a standardised mortgage rescue plan to help people with mortgage arrears keep their homes. This would reduce the numbers using unregulated 'sale and lease back' companies, which often exploit debt-stricken homeowners.
Mr Cable also called on 'trigger happy' lenders to go through a full and proper court process before they repossessed homes.
In response to the Liberal Democrat Housing proposals, Adam Sampson, Chief Executive of Shelter said:
'The Liberal Democrats have set out a very positive package that would go a long way to helping thousands of struggling homeowners and potentially kick start the flagging house building industry.
'However, this cannot be delivered using money already earmarked for the delivery of social house building as suggested but extra money must be found to help prop up house builders, first time buyers and the housing market as a whole and not at the expense of social housing.
'We hope that Gordon Brown pays close attention to this package and, in his imminent announcement on housing, commits the additional funds needed to deliver a wide ranging and focussed package like this that helps those in the greatest need.'
