FOR weeks in the run up to the elections, the national media was dominated by stories of MPs’ expenses.

This issue monopolised the headlines to the extent that you would be forgiven if you had thought that we were not in the middle of the toughest recession in years.

Of course it is still going on and the closure of C&G branches and continued redundancies by businesses of all sizes just highlights how real it is.

Our benefits teams are working hard to help people as much as they can but something else was brought to my attention this week.

Of course affordable housing is always an issue, even more so in the recession.

But one particular area is worth highlighting right now.

Currently we have close to 2,500 households on our housing waiting list – all wanting accommodation, which is in very limited supply.

In 2007/8 we had nine enquiries from private landlords to attract people from this list to rent from them but one year on, our most recent figures show a jump to 84 – nearly a ten-fold increase.

Perhaps it’s due to problems in the ‘buy-to-let’ market or landlords generally needing to find occupants. Either way we managed to house around 75 families in this way last year.

This is a very positive outcome and one to be encouraged.

So I would like to get this message out further.

If you are a private landlord and you are finding it difficult to let your property, you can contact the council and we may be able to help you.

We do not manage the properties but we can put you in touch with prospective tenants.

We have people on our housing register from across the district looking for affordable accommodation.

With a 90 per cent success rate it is worth a try.

In the downturn, the building of new homes, and that includes those classed as ‘affordable homes,’ has virtually halted.

It will pick up again but in the meantime let us do everything we can.

* If you would like to rent your property to someone looking for affordable accommodation call Stroud District Council on 01453 754084 * Do you agree with Chas Fellows? Add your own comments here or write to the usual address