The Ministry of Defence has been accused of exacerbating the housing crisis after it emerged the authority has a stockpile of empty homes.

Cross-party politicians have teamed up to call on the government department to free up its empty housing stock.

It comes after KentOnline reported yesterday more than 7,000 houses across Kent have been empty for more than six months.

In a Freedom of Information request, KentOnline asked about the number of MoD-owned homes within a 15-mile radius of Hythe on civilian land.

We also asked for the number of bedrooms, days occupied, and the homes’ whereabouts.

Of the 33 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) homes owned one third are empty, meaning 43 bedrooms stand unoccupied.

Although the MoD would not disclose the home’s whereabouts to safeguard armed service personnel, it revealed one home has stood empty for more than five years.

But it did not respond to a question about plans for the future of these properties.

The figures obtained by KentOnline reveal:

• 11 of 33 homes are currently empty

• One home has been empty for more than five years

• Four homes have been empty for more than four years

• Six homes have been empty for more than three years

A total of 43 bedrooms stand empty at the time of publication.

Hythe town councillor Paul Peacock (Con) for West Ward believes some of the empty homes are on his patch.

"I have been concerned about the empty MoD houses for some time and in particular flagged this up when the residents of Pensand House were notified of their eviction.

"There are empty MoD properties, including garages, in my ward.

"With the acute shortage of rental property available locally it would be fantastic if these family homes could be bought back into use.

"Many residents contact me desperately looking for accommodation as many cannot afford to buy property here - it seems an utter waste to leave houses and garages empty."

Cllr Ashley Tanton, South Ward (Green), echoed Cllr Peacock’s concern.

"My constituents will share my frustration to learn these properties are languishing empty while families face the reality of moving to the other end of the country or sitting on a housing list for who knows how long," he said.

"I am certain that my constituents would rather see the money spent and these properties, if they are surplus to requirements, be brought back into use so that they can provide homes for local people.
"In 1996 the MoD sold its family service estate - otherwise known as its ‘married quarters’ – on a leaseback contract to Annington Property Limited.

The multi-million pound deal included 55,000 residential homes intended to be rented from the company for 200 years.

Earlier this year the government’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report branded the deal ‘disastrous’ for the taxpayer.

It came as the National Audit Office (NAO) released a report stating the MoD is at least £2.2 billion worse off since selling the homes.

The NAO’s report also found Annington property investors made ‘significant investment’ on the homes.

The PAC report, published in July, continued: “The deal has turned out to be disastrous for taxpayers, offering no protection against the private sector making excessive gains at the taxpayer’s expense.

“Depending on the outcome of negotiations, the department’s costs could increase significantly at a time when the defence budget is already stretched.”

The committee recommended the government ensures all future deals with Annington are designed to protect the public purse.