Just a Rumour put about by Those with no Homes. That might sound cynical, but according to a Building Society there are 800,000 more houses than households in this country and according to Shelter nearly half of those houses have been empty for more than six months. At the same time there are 50,000 homeless, and that doesn't include those in sub-standard houses or those like young marrieds compelled to live with their in-laws. It's become increasingly difficult to rent privately; small landlords particularly are selling rather than letting flats because, they claim, of the effects of the 1974 Rent Act. But local authorities too own thousands of houses standing empty. Jeremy James examines the paradox of empty houses and homeless families with the homeless themselves, councillors, social workers and Shelter and the Minister responsible for housing.