Private sector housing strategy

Private sector housing consists of all homes which are privately owned, or privately rented whether they are empty or being lived in. Wirral’s Private Sector Housing Strategy 2008-2010 sets out the key objectives and priorities in Wirral and how these are to be addressed. The document details how tackling these issues will contribute to the regeneration of Wirral, helping to create sustainable communities across the whole of the borough in which people choose to live and stay. There are over 124,000 private sector homes across the borough, accounting for 85% of all housing (the remainder mostly belonging to Housing Associations), making the sector an important provider of homes to Wirral residents

Some key facts about private sector housing include:

• more than 8 out of 10 homes are privately owned or privately rented
• over 17,000 properties are rented from private landlords, that is 13.7% of private homes
• there is a dedicated team within the Council tackling the 6,000 empty properties
• the number of vulnerable households is increasing, and likely to do so in a climate of aging populations.

Within Wirral, it is a key objective to improve the quality of the existing housing supply available, and concentrate resources to increase the supply in target areas. This will enable the borough to improve its current ‘housing offer’ within the private sector. Significant progress has already been made with our partners to redress the polarised housing market in Wirral and meet local housing needs, mainly through the Newheartlands Housing Market Renewal Initiative.

Wirral is well placed to meet the challenges ahead and build on its current record of success of working in partnership with key agencies, housing providers and communities to deliver housing and related services within the Borough. We will do this through the strategy action plan which sets out clear initiatives and targets to be delivered. This is supported by a clear commitment to work at a sub regional and regional level with other local authorities and North West partners to contribute to wider housing, economic and regeneration priorities.

The Borough has much to offer to the revitalisation of the Liverpool City Region and through the targeted work of the strategy we can actively contribute to making the Northern area more prosperous and desirable as a location of choice.