FOI reveals Labour council is Liverpool’s biggest slum landlord

Liberal Democrats have accused Labour-run Liverpool City Council of being the city’s biggest slum landlord, after a Freedom of Information Request revealed the council is sitting on 138 properties that have been vacant for over a year.

The FOI by Liberal Democrat Councillor Andrew Makinson shows that the council owns 31 vacant residential properties, all of which have been empty for over 12 months. There are 112 council-owned commercial properties currently empty - including 107 that have been vacant for over a year.

“The city is losing £Millions in rent while these properties are left to rot,” argues Councillor Andrew Makinson.

“The council should be using these buildings to provide homes for those in need, and space for businesses to create jobs, instead, communities are often left with eyesores that attract anti-social behaviour.”

Examples include Beechley House, a mansion on the edge of Calderstones Park that was used as a care home until Liverpool Council bought it for £1 million in 2016. Since then, it has become derelict and suffered frequent arson attacks. (It was originally bought to facilitate the controversial Redrow Homes development in Calderstones Park, which campaigners later defeated in the High Court.)

Meanwhile, on Mather Avenue, shops remain vacant after the council evicted the previous tenants. Despite having a list of new businesses ready to move in, it has taken over two years for the council to process the new leases. 

“In January, the council voted to crack down on slum landlords who leave properties empty. It is clear that the biggest slum landlord in Liverpool is this Labour-run council,” said Andrew.

On 22nd January, Labour councillors also rejected a Lib Dem proposal to draw up a citywide register of empty council-owned properties, and publish details of the council’s plans for bringing them back into use.