Housing at 'breaking point' - Stunell

9.38.34am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Andrew Stunell at launch of new Shelter campaign

A new report from Shelter, the housing charity, says many North West families are making desperate sacrifices to keep a roof over their heads, including spending less on food, selling possessions and borrowing from friends and family.

Last week, local MP Andrew Stunell, joined Shelter in Westminster for the launch of their 'Breaking Point' report, which calls on the government to end the nation's housing crisis.

The plan also calls for mortgage lenders to use repossession only as a last resort, and provide more help and support to homeowners; and for more safeguards for tenants renting privately. Shelter say the Government should review property taxation to make the system fairer, including council tax, stamp duty, inheritance tax and capital gains tax.

Commenting, Mr Stunell said:

"Everyone has the right to an affordable and decent place to call home. With over 7,000 families Stockport waiting for their own council house, repossessions soaring, and private sector rents rising, we need to do more to tackle the housing affordability crisis.

"I am working hard with Shelter to help the one in four families in the North West that are suffering from stress or depression due to today's housing costs.

"We also need to scrap Council Tax, and replace it with a tax based on people's ability to pay."

"Gordon Brown has promised to make housing a priority in his Government. Now is the time the Labour government lived up to its fine words and tackled the problem head-on."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The report 'Breaking Point' was based on a YouGov survey of 6,799 adults in Great Britain.

2. For a copy of the report, or more information about Shelter's 'Now Is the Time'' campaign, please see www.shelter.org.uk/nowisthetime