Birmingham City Council urged to help elderly and poor homeowners

Feb 4 2009 by Neil Elkes, Birmingham Post

Birmingham’s vulnerable elderly and low-income homeowners will not see their houses brought up to 21st century standards until 2080, it has been claimed.

Those struggling to keep their own roof over their heads need more help to fit double glazing and central heating, according to Mike Leddy, Labour housing spokesman on Birmingham City Council.

Coun Leddy (Brandwood) said: “There 203,000 private homeowners in Birmingham and this city has a responsibility towards them, just as it does to its own tenants. They have all but been forgotten.

‘‘There are 81,000 of these failing to meet the decent homes standard. Many of them vulnerable and elderly. It’s a disgrace.”

He said the council is doing little or nothing to help private homeowners.

“The council is committed to helping 1,100 every single year at an average cost of £2,700, so it will be 2080 before they bring all the houses up to scratch,” he said. “If nothing is done, there will be no alternative but return to the massive house clearances we saw in the 1960s,” he said.

But council cabinet member for housing John Lines (Cons, Bartley Green) hit back saying there are two schemes designed to help homeowners improve their properties.

“Obviously Coun Leddy has not heard of Kickstart or something called House Proud which are making a difference,” he said. “It is more than the Labour group did when they were in control of Birmingham’s housing.”