HOUSING chiefs in North Dorset have slammed empty homes as an “absolute disgrace”.

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, North Dorset District Council’s portfolio holder for housing, spoke out ahead of a national week of action on empty homes, which was due to begin on Monday, November 23.

Some 900 people in North Dorset are waiting on the council’s housing list, while an estimated 300 private homes in the district stand empty.

“The charitable Empty Homes Agency reports that more than one in 20 homes stands empty for more than six months.

“This is an absolute disgrace when there are families desperately needing places to live,” said Mr Carr-Jones.

The number of empty properties in North Dorset has increased during the slump in the housing market, with the shortage of affordable homes in the district described as “acute” by district housing bosses.

Housing officer, Jo Rickman, told the Daily Echo that a further 553 houses in the district were registered with the district council as second homes.

The council is promoting the Private Sector Leasing Scheme – an initiative offering a guaranteed rent and no administrative fees to property owners.

Campaign group The Empty Homes Agency has set up a website where people can report empty properties to local authorities.

The group wants councils to draw up “empty property strategies” to tackle empty housing in their districts and to take on dedicated empty property officers.

To report an empty property, visit reportemptyhomes.com. For more information on the Private Sector Leasing Scheme in North Dorset, call 01258 484377. The National Week of Action on Empty Homes runs until Friday.