A SHORTFALL of social housing could be addressed by tapping into the private rented market, Enfield Council's housing boss has said.

To address the borough's housing shortage, the council is already seeking to bring empty homes along the A406 back into use, regenerating estates such as Ladderswood, in New Southgate, and Highmead, in Edmonton, as well as making plans to build more homes.

More than 7,600 families are on the council's housing register with approximately 2,600 households living in temporary accommodation.

On average, only 860 properties become available each year.

But Councillor Ahmet Oykener, cabinet member for housing, said one key way to provide housing and eliminate overcrowding and homelessness, is to encourage people to consider renting.

Speaking at a consultation event, Cllr Oykener said: “In these increasingly difficult times, where more and more of our residents are looking to us to help them find a home, it is vital we work in even more imaginative ways with our partners.

“Unfortunately we do not have enough socially rented homes for everyone that wants one. A solution to this is tapping in to the private rented sector which is growing in Enfield, and which has a key role to play in meeting housing need.”

More than 23 different organisations attended the event at Enfield Civic Centre, in Silver Street, on Thursday, October 7, to discuss the future of housing in the borough.

Speakers included Finlay Kelly, area housing manager from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), who explained to delegates about proposed changes to funding for social housing which would give councils like Enfield more control over how money is spent.

Sally Blandford, from communities and local government, also spoke about the private rented sector and congratulated the council on its focus on private rented homes in the borough to help prevent homelessness.

Cllr Oykener added: “The discussions with partners we had at the conference were informative, and will, along with all these other initiatives, help us to develop our future housing priorities for the borough.”

He said that plans were underway for a wider consultation event with residents on plans for housing in Enfield scheduled for spring 2011.