THOUSANDS of private homes in Southampton are unfit for human habitation, a survey has revealed.

Out of 72,700 homes in the city, about 5,500 should not be lived in and a third fail to meet even basic health and safety standards.

They might be disease-ridden, pest-infested, overcrowded or have fire or electrical hazards.

In three out of five family or shared homes, occupants do not even have a safe escape route from fire.

Now the shocking statistics have prompted city housing bosses to set aside more than £3.7m to help homeowners carry out vital repairs.

Grants and loan packages of up to £30,000 will go to eligible homeowners and landlords to bring their property up to scratch.

Sally Champeny, 39, received a £7,000 grant for a new roof, back door, boiler and front window sill at her Vine Road home in Coxford.

The mum-of-two said: "Financially I wouldn't have been able to do this work. It would have taken me years to pay it off. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I got the grant. It was fantastic."

The £3.7m Southampton City Council funding is part of a drive to make sure every city resident lives in safe, warm and energy-efficient conditions.

Although householders are responsible for their own homes, half of those who live in unfit buildings are on low incomes and struggle to pay for repairs.

Councillor Paul Russell, responsible for housing, said: "As well as providing grants and loan schemes for those who need help, we will also provide a wealth of free advice for those homeowners who aren't eligible for financial assistance."