We read daily of the homeless people kept in temporary housing which, in itself, is costing millions over budget.

But what is being done about the length of time properties owned by Brighton and Hove City Council are empty?

A small group of mums chatting in the playground was able to come up with ten properties that had lain empty for six months or more in appalling conditions, many of which had become dumps for unwanted rubbish.

Countless calls to the council wanting to know when these homes would be ready for new tenants were told empty homes should be repaired and reallocated within ten weeks. They are all still empty.

What is going on? Essential services to other areas are being cut to find money to pay for this overspend.

Yet the council is making no effort in getting these homes re-allocated in double-quick time to those in genuine need.

The council must get these homes repaired, if needed, within weeks of vacation and given to one of thousands in current need, whether on the current transfer list or homeless.

Fix and fill these houses and the drain on funds will lessen a little. And, hopefully, the next tenant of the once-derelict properly will respect it instead of abusing it.

-C Burchell, Brighton