SIR: I am responding to the letter, from Mr Miller, which appeared (BEN, September 28) regarding Bolton Council's expenditure on private homes.

Bolton Council, like all other local Housing Authorities, has a responsibility in one form or another for all housing within the Borough.

Nearly 30 per cent of the private housing stock was built before 1919 to minimum standards and our current information indicates that there are over 21,000 unfit homes. The condition of these homes is by far the biggest housing problem within the Borough and the Council, acting as agent for the Government, administers a housing grant programme to support the regeneration of our inner urban areas.

To put the situation into perspective, it is estimated that it would need over £500m to deal with all of the unfit homes in the Borough and yet the Council has only been able to direct approximately £7m p.a. over the last few years towards solving this enormous problem. (£4m main programme and £3m that we won via challenge funding). At £4m a year it will take 125 years to solve the problem.

On the other hand we spend approximately £24m (responsive and planned maintenance) on 22,500 Council homes each year. So, at the moment, we spend on average per year over £1,000 per Council home and only £330 per private home in need.

Cllr Tony Connell

Chair of Housing Renewal

Sub Committee

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