Council homes open for Neath and Port Talbot tenants
HOUSING chiefs are not so much breaking down doors as throwing them open to persuade thousands of council tenants to agree to have a new landlord.
Neath Port Talbot is reopening four show homes as part of its mission to convince people that the switch to a new social landlord would lead to their houses or flats being transformed.
Despite fierce opposition from protesters, the authority insists this is the only way to unlock the £152million need to bring its 9,000-plus properties up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.
The four show homes, in Velindre, Sandfields, Briton Ferry and Pontardawe, opened in the summer and closed in September.
They will reopen later this month until December, in advance of a make-or-break ballot sometime early next year. Neath Port Talbot says it will give them a chance to see what improvements will be carried out to kitchens, gardens and outdoor areas, if the houses are taking over by NPT Homes, a not-for-profit group that would be set up to look after the properties.
Opponents have slammed the transfer proposals as privatisation, and argue the money should be made available to the council.
But council leader Ali Thomas said: "Current strict Government rules on local authority finance means that, as things stand, the council is not able to borrow the money it needs to bring tenants' homes up to the Welsh Standard.
"However NPT Homes would be governed by different rules and could afford to borrow the money needed to bring homes in the county up to the Assembly Government's expectations."
Programme manager Claire Maimone said: "The council is committed to ensuring tenants have the opportunity to see first-hand what transfer could mean for them."
5 Comments
by Paul, Swansea DCH
Thursday, October 15 2009, 4:14PM
“A report by the Council Housing Group of MPs details broken promises. When promises are broken, tenants can do little, because offer document promises are a contract between the housing association and the council, not with the individual tenant. To win tenants¿ votes, promises are made to them in an offer document. But the question that tenants need to be asking is whether these promises are legally enforceable.
The Law Centre say: "If an RSL wants to ignore the promises they have made in a tenancy agreement, and rely instead on the weaker rights set out in law, they may be able to do so. In a leading court case a judge found that a housing association were entitled to override the promise they had made to always give notice before issuing proceedings, because this was allowed by statute."”
by Peter, Neath
Wednesday, October 14 2009, 6:29PM
“There is plenty of information about this transfer for tenants to make an informed and intelligent choice. Information can be obtained via the council's website or by visiting the civic centres. Any promises made in the offer document to tenants are legally enforceable and will be monitored by NPTCBC and the Welsh Assembly Government. Remember we are talking about people's homes - and I want the tenants in Neath Port Talbot to have the best advantage to upgrade their homes, improve the environment and protect jobs for our employees and portential employees over the next 30 years.”
by Stuart, Port Talbot
Tuesday, October 13 2009, 2:32PM
“*As I've said in the past... we need more transparenty on this.*
+I''ve seen the likes of the former Dewi Sant (now Coastal Housing) refurbishing their houses constantly, including new kitchens, bathrooms, etc.+
The council haven't helped tenants in the past... I can't remember the last time the council called to check up on things!
While I was fully *against* the transfer in the past, now I wonder if it isn't worth it.
The only point holding me back is the future of rents, security for tentnats, and the Right To Buy.
The council obviously want the housing stock off their hands. Maybe it's time to roll with it.”
by jeffery P, port5 talbot
Monday, October 12 2009, 7:12PM
“Where does the rent the council takes for these houses go. For every one pound rent per house the council get £450k per year. What is the average rent on council houses. Why does the council claim it cannot afford to repair these houses, What level of missmanagent are we looking at. What is happening to all tne rental income.
Why limit the choice of privatization to council house tennants. We all have a stake in this , Who will pay the redundancy of the workers who they no longer need, will this mean a lower wages bill and a reduction in council tax or will they just keep the same amount of staff and increase council tax?”
by Chris, Neath
Monday, October 12 2009, 4:15PM
“This is just a council tease to get people to agree to the new transfer. Do you honestly think that the new landlord is going to spend thousand of pounds on your home to bring it up to the same standard as these show houses...you must be living in cuckoo land!”