‘Council Housing Now an Option For All’ Says Housing Leader

A community leader has urged those looking for new homes in the Wrexham area to consider Council housing as one of their main options.

Wrexham Council currently have two bed properties available to rent at an average rent of £100 per week – with Lead Member for Housing, Cllr Ian Roberts encouraging those looking for a property to contact their nearest estate office.

He has also suggested that Council Housing may now be an option for people who have traditionally moved straight into private rented accommodation. “Wrexham has a high population of young families, students and young professional couples who require good quality affordable housing.

“Many of these tenants tend to move straight into renting private properties when they could have been eligible for a council property. I think it’s important that we start appealing to these groups so that they are aware that there may be very suitable homes available to them for an affordable rent.

“As well as the town itself, we also have properties across the County Borough, so I think it makes a lot of sense for anyone searching for a new home to see if there’s anything available which would suit their needs.”

Thousands of Council properties across the County Borough are now being modernised to ensure that they achieve the Welsh Government’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard by the 2020 deadline.

Between 2015-2017 over £90m will be spent improving kitchens and bathrooms at council properties across the County Borough.

The modernisation project has also seen homes benefit from new, efficient central heating systems, external wall insulation, electrical rewiring and many other internal and external improvements.

Cllr Roberts says the ‘homes are being made fit for the future and could now be a great solution for many people’s housing needs’.

He added: “I believe council housing now has a major role to play in helping to tackle the issue of housing shortage. Wrexham has over 11,000 council houses, the largest number in Wales outside of Cardiff and Swansea.

“The quality and variety of affordable properties we are able to offer all over the County Borough has improved dramatically over the last few years.

“I would encourage anyone moving into Wrexham looking for a place to live to contact the estate offices and see what council housing is available.”

Applications are accepted from people who are working or in receipt of benefits  – subject to eligibility and waiting lists.

For more information and to request and application form, contact 01978 832900, email [email protected] or visit the Wrexham Council website.