The Green Party in Richmond say they have discovered thousands of empty homes in the area, whilst figures from a homeless charity show that there are thousands without homes in Richmond.

Green Party campaigners claim that there are over 1200 homes standing empty in Richmond-upon-Thames, including over 80 luxury flats in the Teddington Riverside complex.

However, figures from the homeless charity, Shelter, suggest there are over 1200 people recorded as homeless in Richmond and 560 children in temporary accommodation.

Chas Warlow, the Prospective Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park, and a local councillor, says: "This is a scandalous and unsustainable situation – while people on average incomes are struggling to find affordable accommodation in the area, these flats appear to have been empty since they were built over five years ago.

"This beggars belief – our residents, especially young people trying to find somewhere affordable to live, deserve better."

Chantal Kerr-Shepherd, Green Party Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Twickenham, adds: "According to the charity Shelter, 1200 people were recorded as homeless in 2023 and 560 children are living in temporary accommodation in Richmond.

"We know that there are currently over 5,000 people on the social housing waiting list in Richmond.

"The country is in the grip of a housing crisis and the current government has no plan to deal with it – but will the other main parties do any better? The Green Party has a comprehensive plan to make sure that we have enough affordable housing to meet our needs."

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Chas Warlow is running against four other candidates for the Richmond Park Parlimentary seat.

The figures on empty homes in Richmond come from the council's Private Sector Housing Team.

Richmond Council has been approached for comment.