HC Deb 01 March 2004 vol 418 cc700-1W
Andrew Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many units in the ownership of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive are(a) void and (b) empty due to their state of disrepair; and how many are deemed unfit for human habitation; and if he will make a statement. [156217]

Mr. Spellar

The information is not available in the precise format requested as the Northern Ireland Housing Executive does not draw a distinction between void and empty property. Instead the Housing Executive categorises vacant properties asLettable Generally short-term vacancies usually in the process of being reallocated. Operational voids Generally dwellings which are deliberately being held vacant to facilitate planned improvements or open market sale. Long term voids Generally dwellings which are difficult to let due to lack of demand and includes properties blocked up to prevent vandalism, blocked up as a result of vandalism and fire damaged dwellings. Pending demolition Houses to be demolished either because they are designated surplus to requirement or to facilitate redevelopment.

The information as at January 2004 was as follows:

Number of units
Lettable 55
Operational 2,650
Long term 1,280
Pending demolition 1,782
Total 5,767

The 2001 House Condition Survey identified an estimated 3,000 Housing Executive properties which were deemed unfit for human habitation.

The Housing Executive endeavours to balance the need for letting stock as quickly as possible against operational requirements and, under the common housing selection scheme, providing its tenants with a choice in where they wish to live.

Andrew Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses in the ownership of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive were(a) void and (b) empty in each of the past 12 months; what the average time was that the properties remained unallocated to tenants; and if he will make a statement. [156218]

Mr. Spellar

The Housing Executive does not draw a distinction between void and empty property. The following table sets out the number of vacant Housing Executive dwellings for the 12 month period February 2003 to January 2004.

Month Lettable1 Operational2 Long term3 Undergoing redevelopment/

pending demolition4

Total
February 2003 65 2,614 1,280 2,233 6,252
March 2003 63 2,667 1,232 2,306 6,268
April 2003 116 2,701 1,331 2,309 6,457
May 2003 96 2,689 1,295 2,326 6,406
June 2003 95 2,659 1,316 2,345 6,415
July 2003 98 2,685 1,305 2,315 6,403
August 2003 90 2,747 1,277 2,246 6,360
September 2003 56 2,678 1,200 2,107 6,041
October 2003 91 2,807 1,251 2.079 6,228
November 2003 76 2,714 1,231 1,863 5,884
December 2003 102 2,691 1,286 1,841 5,920
January 2004 55 2,650 1,280 1,782 5,767
1 Lettable—generally short-term vacancies usually in the process of being re-allocated.
2 Operational voids—generally dwellings which are deliberately being held vacant to facilitate planned improvements or open market sale.
3 Long term voids—generally dwellings which are difficult to let due to lack of demand and includes properties blocked up to prevent vandalism, blocked up as a result of vandalism and fire damaged dwellings.
4 Pending demolition—houses to be demolished either because they are designated surplus to requirement or to facilitate redevelopment.

The information for the last 12 months regarding the time these properties remain unoccupied is not routinely kept but is complied from time to time for special exercises. This information was last complied for the 2001–02 financial year and shows the times as follows: Lettable voids—10.8 days (95 per cent. of all lettable stock are allocated in two weeks). Operational voids—89.7 days. Long term voids—111.7 days.

As part of the management of its housing stock the Housing Executive must balance the need for letting stock as quickly as possible against operational requirements and, under the common housing selection scheme, providing its tenants with a choice in where they wish to live.