Gwynedd Council tenants to consider Offer Document

Gwynedd Council tenants will receive a formal Offer Document this week detailing Council proposals to transfer its housing stock to Gwynedd Community Homes. This is the latest step in the consultation with tenants on the future of their homes.

Each secure and introductory tenant will receive a copy of the document and have the opportunity to express their views on its content. It sets out full details of how their rights would be protected as well as the assurance that rents would not rise any more than they would if their homes stayed with the Council. Following the consultation process a ballot will be held and only then, if the majority of tenants who vote, vote in favour can transfer go ahead.

The Welsh Assembly Government requires all councils in Wales to bring their homes up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) which means homes should be in a good state of repair, be safe and secure as well as have modern kitchens and bathrooms.

Only a very small number of Gwynedd’s housing stock currently reach this standard.

An independent survey recently showed that the Council needs to spend £136 million on its homes in the next five years. Without the transfer to Gwynedd Community Homes it estimates that only £55 million will be available to it to make improvements – a deficit of £81 million.

Gwynedd Council does not have the resources to make necessary improvements and believes that transfer to a new not-for-profit housing organisation would be the best way forward.

Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Senior Portfolio Leader for Care said: “Our homes need to be substantially improved in order to reach the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. But the money is not available to us due to strict government rules which prevent us as a local authority from borrowing all the money needed.

“Gwynedd Community Homes, however, would be governed by different rules and would be able to borrow the money to invest in homes so that they reach the Welsh Assembly Government’s standards.”

For several weeks the Council has opened show homes and run a mobile show home exhibition at various locations across Gwynedd so that tenants can see for themselves what is proposed as well as what to expect under the WHQS. Further show homes will continue to open until the end of the consultation period on 14 February.

For further information on the housing transfer proposals and the show home exhibition programme, tenants can contact:

- The Council’s freephone information line on 0800 0304653, or email: houisngfuture@gwynedd.gov.uk

- Gwynedd Tenants’ Commission on 01286 889121 for Welsh language speakers, 01286 889110 for English language speakers and email: gwyneddtc@yahoo.com

- Independent Tenant Adviser PS Consultants, on freephone 0800 0194004 for Welsh speakers, on freephone 0800 0852 207 for English speakers, email: enquiries@psconsultants.org.uk, or visit www.psconsultants.org.uk