• 14% of rents uncollected: well above the London average
• Rent arrears double the London average
• Percentage of housing deemed ‘not decent’: a staggering 30%

Haringey Liberal Democrats will tonight (22nd July) criticise Labour-run Haringey Council’s housing policy. With dreadful performance statistics, 30% of the Council’s properties deemed to be in a very poor state, chronic overcrowding and leaseholders deeply unsatisfied with Haringey Council, Haringey Lib Dems will warn that if Haringey Labour does not shape up, the Council will be under pressure to transfer its housing stock to another provider.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s housing debate, Lib Dem Deputy leader, Cllr Ross Laird, said: “It is all very well for the Labour Council to run bleating to the Government for extra cash, but it needs to get its own house in order first.There can be no doubt that the Council can still improve its rent collection – which is still well below the London average. Rent arrears still stand at nearly double the London average. The percentage of the Council’s housing stock which is deemed to be ‘not decent’ still stands at a staggering 30%.”

Lib Dem housing spokesman Cllr Ron Aitken said: “For New Labour Councillor Josie Irwin to put down a motion on housing and refugees is hypocrisy. New Labour has cosied up to its friends in the national press, even though they often falsely portray Britain as a paradise for refugees. In reality they are often exposed to racism, vulnerability and poverty.”