An elderly couple, Jose and Ted Saunders, who had recently moved into their £200,000 house in Rushden, near Wellingborough, were shocked to receive a letter from North Northamptonshire Council suggesting that their property could be subject to compulsory purchase for housing asylum seekers. The strongly-worded letter, part of the “Empty Properties and Sites Initiative,” claimed that the property was deemed empty or unused, and the council could potentially force them to sell it to address the housing needs of asylum seekers.
Retired carer Jose, 76, expressed disbelief at the idea of being compelled to sell their house for the accommodation of refugees and asylum seekers. The letter outlined the government’s concern about privately-owned empty properties causing blight within communities and being an untapped resource during a time of high housing demand.
The couple promptly contacted the council, seeking clarification on the matter. Three days later, they received an apology, explaining that their house had been mistakenly earmarked for possible compulsory purchase. However, the Saunders remained puzzled by the policy itself and questioned the council’s practice of forcing people to sell their homes for accommodating asylum seekers.
Reform UK Party’s candidate, Ben Habib, condemned the incident, describing it as shocking and disgraceful. The party highlighted the misplaced priorities of the council, willing to spend £200,000 on housing a few migrants while neglecting local charities supporting homeless British citizens and struggling veterans’ charities.
The North Northamptonshire Council, led by the Tories, clarified that the “Empty Property Initiative Letters” were intended to encourage owners of long-term empty properties to bring them back into use. Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) were emphasized as a last resort to address problematic, long-term empty properties. The council acknowledged the outdated records that led to the incorrect letter being sent to an occupied property, expressing regret for any distress caused.
This incident underscored the challenges and controversies surrounding housing policies and the need for effective communication and administration in addressing housing needs and potential blight within communities.
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