EVICTING WORKING TENANTS WON'T SOLVE HOUSING CRISIS

12.00.00am GMT Thu 22nd Feb 2007

Commenting on a government supported report published on Tuesday which suggests removing three million council tenants' right to a home for life, Islington Liberal Democrat Housing Executive Member Cllr Terry Stacy said:

"Earning a living wage shouldn't mean being stripped of a place to live. Providing housing to the homeless shouldn't mean evicting sitting tenants.

"Forcing people out of their homes won't solve the crisis in social housing, but it will divide neighbourhoods.

"Our housing estates need a mix of backgrounds and incomes if we're to build and preserve genuine communities.

"Determining rent by means-testing will either deter people from working or push them off estates where they are happy and established. Meanwhile, the poorest and most deprived will be left behind.

"Labour's failure to build enough social houses has left a legacy of long waiting lists which are at the root of this problem. Labours demolition job on tenants' rights is no substitute for allowing Councils to build the new homes we need ."