Susan Kortlandt

Susan and her husband have lived in Warley since 1997. She taught French and German in comprehensive schools for 30 years. Now retired, she works voluntarily as a community adviser, supporting Brentwood residents with issues such as housing, employment problems or benefits. She loves walking and cycling, and enjoys music and the arts. Genuinely affordable housing is desperately needed here. Susan will prioritise bringing empty houses back into use, giving first refusal to local first-time buyers on new homes and ensuring that developments include social housing and property for older people. She is also keen to require private landlord accreditation to provide decent accommodation at reasonable rents and to increase security by encouraging longer-term tenancies. Cuts in Council funding threaten the very existence of community groups. Susan will work to secure long-term, stable funding for groups like Mind, Brentwood Community Transport, Citizens Advice and our Council for Voluntary Services.