The Conservative Party has unveiled the Empty Property Rescue Scheme (EPR), a new initiative to tackle Britain's social housing crisis, which has seen the number of hard pressed families left languishing on social housing waiting lists soar.

With Gordon Brown's recession deepening and repossessions rising, a record 1.8 million families are now struggling to find suitable accommodation while at the same time, almost one million properties in the United Kingdom lie empty and unused.


Speaking on a visit to potential social housing in Denmark Hill, David Cameron said: "At this incredibly difficult time, it's vital that we focus our resources on helping families and people struggling at the sharp end of this recession. But we must do so in a way that is consistent with the long-term economic and social change Britain needs.

"That's why the Conservatives will temporarily relax Labour's stringent rules and regulations making it easier for the Affordable Housing sector to bring some of the one million empty homes in the UK into use.

"This will not only provide real help now to the 4.5 million people currently on the social housing waiting list and the one hundred families that are having their home repossessed every day.

"It will also go a long way towards reducing the crime and anti-social behaviour associated with empty housing and preventing an over-correction in house prices by putting a floor in the housing market."

(CD/JM)