Number of families waiting for Council house Rises again

4.00.00pm GMT Fri 28th Mar 2008

An additional 1200 local families are living in uncertain and undesirable accommodation this year, as figures show that the council house waiting list in the City of Manchester has grown again.

Since Labour came to power in 1997 the waiting list in the City has increased by a staggering 86%.

Manchester Lib Dem Shadow Executive member for Housing, Cllr Iain Donaldson , stated that:

"Access to affordable, decent housing is a right, not a privilege, but Labour have left too many people in Manchester inadequately housed.

"Gordon Brown has promised to make housing a priority in his Government, but these figures show that waiting lists have nearly doubled since Labour came to power.

"Last year less than 200 new social houses were built in the City, whilst the waiting list increased by over six times that amount.

"In Manchester there are now over 18,000 families on the waiting list, and I know from my own surgeries that many are stuck in overcrowded or very unsuitable accommodation, with no real chance of getting housed properly.

"It is a hidden part of the housing crisis, and it is time the Labour government lived up to its fine words and tackled the problem head-on."