MAKING landlords pay up for empty homes is one way to tackle the problem of run-down areas, says Darwen councillor Dave Smith.

His comments come as the area prepares for a visit from Housing Minister Lord Falconer, who is touring East Lancashire to see for himself the scale of the local problems.

Coun Smith, of Sunnyhurst Ward made the suggestions in a letter to Andrew Bennett MP, joint chairman of the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee at the House of Commons.

Mr Bennett, who has appealed for local people's views on how to combat the problems, believes one of the reasons why some towns are getting run-down is because of the large number of empty houses.

Coun Smith tells Mr Bennett in his letter: "The problem of empty private homes is a real problem in Sunnyhurst and in the borough as a whole. In my own ward there are 276 empty properties -- 9.4 per cent of the total number."

Coun Smith said having empty houses in an area can result in an increase in vandalism; dumped rubbish attracting vermin; 'stigmatization' of the area and a break up of communities and a lack of natural surveillance leading to increased crime

He believes empty houses are a result of private landlords buying up terrace houses to get rich quick but the market is now saturated with private rented houses. He also says that many of the pre-first world war terrace stock was poorly built is at the end of its life.

He said resources must be made available to clear the worst of the unfit housing and the housing benefit system should be changed so that rents charged match the fitness or value of the property.

Coun Smith said: "It is crazy that tax payers should subsidise private landlords, for example the taxpayer pays out £3,500 plus per year to landlords who often buy houses for £8,000 to £15,000."

"Full council tax or even double tax could be charged on all empty homes in order to encourage landlords to fill or sell properties."

Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson described some of the area as a ghetto when she wrote to the Minister last month. Lord Falconer is touring East Lancashire next Friday and Mrs Anderson hopes to show him some of the difficulties faced - particularly as a result of houses standing empty.