§ Sir Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage the continuing role of homesteading as one of the ways to bring back into use local authority properties in disrepair.
§ Mr. John PattenI am continuing to encourage local authorities to look at a wide range of options for meeting people's housing needs and wishes, and I shall be reminding them of the value of homesteading in this context at the next suitable opportunity.
Homesteading is a very useful way of bringing empty council flats and houses back into use. It also gives people a chance to become home owners at a relatively low cost. It does not suit all properties, and not all first-time buyers are willing and able to take on the often considerable work needed, but it can be very helpful indeed in areas where first-time buyers have the necessary skills to undertake renovation work but find it very difficult to afford the prices of houses on the ordinary market. In such cases, some local authorities will use homesteading, using their powers to offer mortgages and home imporvement grants where necessary. They can also, with the Secretary of State's consent, waive mortgage interest payments for up to five years.