Readers have responded to an article about what was once Britain's most expensive house, which has lain empty for years, calling the situation an absurd illustration of the UK's housing problem.
An Absurd Illustration
Kate Dudley from Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire, wrote: "Grand properties lying empty when we're in the midst of a housing crisis is ludicrous. Sam Wollaston's article about a homeless person sleeping in the portico of a £200m palace, which used to be terrace houses, is the most apt and absurd illustration of the UK's housing problem."
She described living in Henley-on-Thames, where a sizeable disused property sat behind the Leander club for over a decade before being developed. Meanwhile, housing estates described as "affordable" are being built, but she and her millennial friends struggle to get on the housing ladder. Dudley argued that councils should have the right to seize massive mansions and use them as temporary shelter or for community benefit.
Innovative Solutions
Aisha Morrell from Beeston, Nottinghamshire, suggested a targeted levy on long-term empty properties, with revenue ringfenced for charities and frontline services tackling homelessness and poverty. She noted that such organisations already have expertise but lack sustainable funding.
John Boxall from Frome, Somerset, discussed limitations of compulsory purchase powers, including contentious valuation and unwanted ownership. He proposed compulsory sale orders, as considered in Scotland, where unused property is sold at auction with lower costs and simpler processes, also acting as a deterrent.
Alison Dark from Crayford, London, supported compulsory possession of empty properties, noting that vacant properties are a scourge. She expressed surprise that no one has squatted in the Kensington mansion, given that London homeless are being moved miles away.
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