REPAIRS to thousands of dilapidated private homes in Kirklees would cost £119m, it has been revealed.
Kirklees Council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel for Housing will discuss the figures - outlined in a report - tomorrow.
About 15,000 private properties throughout Kirklees are said to be unfit for living in or in poor repair.
But many householders have to watch their home crumble away because they cannot afford expensive building work.
Some 23% of owners living in unfit housing are over 65 and 30% are on means-tested benefits.
While 90% of the region's private stock is well-maintained, 5.6% is classed as unfit and 5.1% needs more than £3,000 worth of repairs.
One of the council's main goals is to make sure everyone lives in safe, warm and affordable housing.
Kirklees Council works with groups like the Safe Anchor Trust House Improvement Agency to help older people refurbish private homes falling into disrepair.
The report says: "Disrepair and empty homes blight streets and neighbourhoods. The blight can spread, leading to falling house prices, abandonment and decline.
"It is this long- term need to prevent decline and failure that justifies public money being used to improve areas and assist individual home owners who are vulnerable."
The council's Private Sector Housing Strategy provides advice and help with home improvements.
New grants and loans to tackle poor housing are available.
Kirklees Council also works with landlords to push improvements in the private rented sector. Some 16% of private rented housing in Kirklees is said to be unfit.
