“Minority” of council house tenants “neglect” and “don’t appreciate” improvement works says councillor

The conduct of a minority of council tenants has been questioned during a Homes and Environment Scrutiny Committee.

Councillors were discussing an update report on the Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS) as applied to the council’s housing stock.

Specific addresses will be passed to council officers following the meeting, after annoyance that ‘thousands’ of pounds were being spent on properties, but tenants were then not maintaining the standard created.

The report details the work towards the WHQS by Wrexham Council, and a snapshot of the current status, for example on the concept of an ‘acceptable fail’ relating to circumstances where it is impossible or not cost effective for a property to be brought up to standard it says “The number of properties that fall into the acceptable fail category is 1,963 properties. This is broken down into 1,591 properties that have refused an element of works, therefore, being classified as resident’s choice. The other 372 properties have been classified as physical constraints. An example of this is where is it impossible to install a gas main in an area, which, leads to the property not achieving Welsh Governments target SAP (energy) rating of 65. ”

The report notes, “Approximately 30% of the housing stock have been brought up to an excellent standard, which, has been completed during the void process.”

Cllr Geoff Lowe praised the works carried out, thanking officers for the ‘excellent work’ , however said, “The concern I have is that we are monitoring, or our housing estate officers are monitoring these properties to ensure that the investment is valued and cared for. ”

“I think it was Lee (the officer) who referred to the works done in gardens and you look at some of them, you think, well, that’s a great job and then you walk past some months later, and it’s disappointing to see that they’ve been neglected”.

The debate saw Cllr Graham Rogers express annoyance on a similar point, on ‘properties which get thousands spend on them, but are then neglected’.

He said, “I find this quite often in the ward of Hermitage. It is annoying that I am told staff from Estates constantly go around inspecting properties.

“I witness properties that have been done excellently, and then three, six or nine months down the line there is no improvement due to lack of maintenance.

“What is the situation with the staff advising, instructing, dictating, whatever terminology you want to use on tenants I don’t know. It’s annoying with the amount of money that’s getting spent, and with some not all, I would say they are in the minority, they don’t appreciate was what’s been done.”

“Have we got an answer to that? To me, it should be followed up, followed up, followed up. The ultimate being if you don’t comply, look out!”

The housing officer explained to the meeting, “We do annual visits, and visits when a tenant moves in after four weeks and eight weeks. I will take the comments raised today and will bring something back.”

Cllr Rogers did not appear happy, however an officer did add “This obviously something that we do discuss on a regular basis. There’s no point in making the investment in the properties if they don’t look after them.”

“I am not going to use Covid as an excuse, but I think part of the problem has been in the last 12 months that people haven’t been able to go out and visit people’s houses because of an it. It is an excuse, and it’s not an excuse, but I think that’s been one of the difficulties. That’s been hard.”

Cllr Rogers was finally satisfied when he was told to pass over any specific addresses of concern, which will then be followed up by officers.