BURNLEY MP Peter Pike warns the town's biggest landlord never to lose sight of the fact that the 5,000 families occupying its homes are the number one priority.
The MP said Burnley and Padiham Community Housing, which earlier this year took control of all the town's former council homes, did not have an easy task and would be judged on what it delivered to tenants.
He said the new structure of social housing in Burnley would make resources available to the company for major imprtovements, which were not available to the local authority.
He added that it would also enable the council to be in a better position to tackle the large problem of empty properties in the private sector.
Addressing the first annual meeting of the housing company, Mr Pike said housing minister Nick Raynsford would see Burnley's problems at first hand during his visit in October.
"In the end, Burnley can tackle its problems only in partnership with the Government," he said.
Mr Pike referred to the Government's Housing Green Paper -- the fist in 23 years -- which, he said, aimed to ensure decent housing for those who rented and for those who bought properties.
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