Poor housing conditions tackled

The council has set out to tackle fuel poverty and poor housing

A £60,000 project to tackle fuel poverty and poor housing is getting under way in part of Surrey.

The work by Waverley Borough Council is part of an £800,000 initiative covering areas of Surrey and Hampshire.

The authority is aiming to tackle poor conditions in privately-owned properties across the borough.

Councillor Richard Gates said work to tackle fuel poverty would help vulnerable homeowners and tenants of "hard-to-heat homes".

Fuel poverty is defined as households that spend more than 10% of their income on fuel.

He said a second part of the project would see the development of the existing Empty Homes Scheme to bring long-term vacant properties back into use.