JANET Finch-Saunders, MS for Aberconwy and shadow minister for climate change, highlighted the housing crisis being experienced in her constituency and across Wales on ITV Sharp End.

During the panel discussion on Monday (October 10), the shadow minister explained that:

• 1,900 people are on the waiting list for housing in Conwy County.

• Several hundred people are living in temporary accommodation in Conwy County.

• Temporary accommodation in Conwy County includes B&Bs and hotels.

• About 50 Section 21 eviction notices have been issued in the last couple of months.

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After the interview, Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “Through my co-operation with Conwy Housing Solutions, it has become clear that the housing situation has become a crisis.

“I know that the officers in Conwy are trying their best to support individuals and families facing this crisis, but the reality is that there just is not enough accommodation to meet demand.

“Because of Welsh Government legislation private landlords are quickly departing the sector, meaning that there are less homes available to rent.

“In fact, across Wales, it is expected that a further 49 per cent of landlords are planning to sell a property in the next 12 months.

“Already, the spend on temporary accommodation in Conwy County has jumped from £1.25million in 2018-19 to £2.5m in 2020-21, and nationally in Wales, from £5m to £20m.

“With the haemorrhaging of the private landlord sector, I fear that this is going to get worse.

“The Welsh Government need to urgently get a grip on the crisis by stopping the legislation which is forcing landlords out, and urgently taking measures to achieve house building targets.”