Kirsty Waite and her family of six have now spent many months confined to a single room at the George Nickling House homeless centre.

This distressing situation is less about a landlord profiting from the sale of a property—though it resulted in a local family’s eviction—and more about the obstructive bureaucracy within local government that hinders the urgent action needed in cases like this.

After all, landlords, whether commercial or private, do hold the right to buy and sell properties they own. Private property ownership remains a cornerstone of a free, liberal economy. So, the issue here is not the eviction notice that triggered this crisis. Instead, it is the systemic failure of the support network intended to protect individuals and families when they fall upon hard times.

Though many parts of the country face severe housing shortages, exacerbated by the recent and unprecedented pressures of immigration, North Yorkshire is not in quite the same position. While a few foreign nationals have been housed in North Yorkshire, the impact has not been as significant as elsewhere. Indeed, there appear to be empty homes in Ms. Waite’s vicinity that could be suitable for her family.

Yet, the question remains: why have these homes not been opened for bidding, allowing Ms. Waite and her family the chance to secure one?

Matthew Cooke, Interim Chairman of the Richmond and Northallerton branch, is determined to pursue Ms. Waite’s case at the highest levels within the Council. He remarked, “This situation highlights the pervasive bureaucracy within local government, which has worsened since the recent amalgamation of councils into a single unitary authority. No one seems clear on their responsibilities, the rules, or even who to approach to take action. We have a young family living in appalling conditions, while nearby properties have stood empty for at least two months, untouched. The cumbersome and bureaucratic processes in North Yorkshire Council—including protracted procurement exercises—waste valuable time. This is utterly unacceptable. What are we paying these people for? Someone at the Council needs to do their job, or Reform UK will do it for them in the 2027 Council Elections.”

Mr Cooke has today sent a letter to Ms Chantal Dyer, Housing Officer for the Colburn area, with pointed questions for the Council, which has since been passed on to the Council Housing Manager. A formal reply is expected in the coming days.