Latest Housing News

‘Charity making it easier for people on low incomes to get a foot in the door of the private rented sector’

With research released in the news this week revealing that unlike the rest of the country, it is now cheaper to rent a property in Wales than buy one, one charity is making it easier for those on low incomes to access comfortable, safe, private rented homes.

Renting may be cheaper in the long run, but private landlords often demand a large deposit or 'bond' before you can move into their accommodation.  If you are living on a low income, it can be almost impossible to raise enough to find somewhere to live.

The Wallich is a homelessness charity with nearly 30 years experience of supporting vulnerably housed and homeless people, with over 30 projects in 12 Local Authorities across Wales.  Their Bond Boards help people who are confident that they can maintain a tenancy, but who are having trouble raising the money to get a foot in the door.

The Wallich Bond Boards issue a Bond Certificate to cover the cost of a deposit, which means that a prospective tenant doesn't need a large lump sum of cash upfront.  

The bond is given in the form of a Security Bond Certificate.  This is a written guarantee by The Wallich Bond Board to the landlord that if at the end of the tenancy there are rent arrears or damage, The Wallich Bond Board will reimburse the landlord up to the value of the agreed bond.

A landlord is more likely to accept someone as a tenant if they know that a third party, like The Wallich, will guarantee the bond if anything goes wrong.  The charity also offers continued support to tenants after they have moved into the property, advice on rental payments and on Housing Benefit applications, if eligible.  They work with tenants to understand tenancy responsibilities and can act as a mediator if any problems arise. 

The charity has run successful Bond Boards in Swansea and Bridgend for a number of years, and enjoys positive relationships with many private landlords in the area.  They have now opened new branches in Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent and are looking forward to the scheme’s expansion and continued success.

Chief Executive of The Wallich, Stephen Gamgee says;

“Due to the decline in the availability of Social Housing, it has become vitally important to make the best use of the Private Rented Sector.  Our Bond Boards provide invaluable help to people who wish to be re-housed.  I am certain that our expansion into Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil will be as successful as our current projects”.

For more information about the scheme, either as a tenant, or a landlord, please contact either the Bond Board Co-ordinator on 01495 313013 or the Bond Board Worker on 01685 725359

Low Cost Home Ownership – The Homebuy Scheme

With house prices in Merthyr rising every month it is becoming increasingly difficult for first time buyers to get a foot on the property ladder.

We are therefore delighted to announce that the popular Homebuy scheme is now available for current tenants of either Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council or any Housing Association operating in Merthyr Tydfil.

With Homebuy, you may be able to choose a property on the open market anywhere in Merthyr Tydfil* and only pay 70% of the total cost. The remaining 30% will be provided by Hafod Housing Association and secured as an equity loan on the property. You do not pay any monthly rent or interest on the loan and it only needs to be repaid to Hafod if you sell the property in the future.

This is an excellent opportunity for people to become homeowners who would otherwise not be to afford to do so. As you would expect, this is an extremely popular scheme and therefore only existing tenants will be considered at this stage. To be eligible, you will need to be working and able to raise a mortgage as well as having enough savings to cover the usual costs of buying a home such as survey and solicitors fees.

To register an interest please contact the Forward Planning Officer on 01685 725386 or alternatively if you wish to request an application form please telephone Hafod Housing Association on 029 2067 5865 or email lcho@hafod.org.uk

Funding is extremely limited and we therefore strongly recommend applying early to avoid disappointment.

*Please note that you cannot purchase the home you currently rent. You will need to vacate your existing property when you purchase a property through the Homebuy scheme.

Information that tenants should have about options to achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard

Homebuy For Merthyr Tydfil

For anyone who has dreamed of owning their own home, but dismissed the idea because they cannot afford a mortgage to cover the full costs, the Homebuy scheme may be able to assist them.

The Welsh Assembly Government has plans to help thousands of additional people to own their own homes through this Scheme, which is designed to address affordability problems.

 How does the Scheme work? 

Homebuy allows anyone to own up to 70% of the market value of their home, while a local RSL retains ownership of the remaining 30%.  In some regeneration areas the RSL is able to help with 50% grant. The scheme has become quite popular with first time buyers on modest incomes who otherwise would not be able to access the property ladder. 

Homebuy is an initiative that compliments and reinforces ‘Quest for Quality Homes’ our Local Housing Strategy, which aims to increase the supply of affordable housing to meet increasing housing need.

Through the social housing grant programme, funding has been secured from the Welsh Assembly Government to offer Homebuy to more people in Merthyr Tydfil. A number of Homebuy purchases have been successfully completed to date and we welcome more applications.

If you are interested in owning your own home and are currently unable to afford to buy, then you should contact the Housing Division for more information.

For more information please contact either 

Housing Options Advice at:

Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil,CF47 8AN

Tel: 01685 725452 Fax: 01685 725423

Email: housing@merthyr.gov.uk            www.merthyr.gov.uk

or:

Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association at:

11/12 Lower High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 8EB

Tel: 01685 352800 Fax: 01685 352801 text phone: 01685 722514

Email: mtha@mtha.org.uk             www.mtha.org.uk   

Tenant Compact Monitoring Panel

The next meeting of the Tenant Compact Monitoring Panel will be held on

Do You Have A Housing Problem?

If you are having problems paying your rent or you are unhappy with a Housing Benefit decision, you can obtain free and confidential advice, advocacy and legal representation from both the Citizens Advice Bureau and Shelter Cymru, who receive funding to provide independent housing advice.

Citizens Advice can be contacted on: (01685) 379997, and Shelter Cymru provides a 24hour service on 0808 800 4444 or they can be contacted on (01792) 469400.

The Red Card Campaign

Are you suffering from anti-social neighbours? If so then help us to help yourselves.  We want to stamp out anti-social behaviour, but we need residents to report it, so show them the RED CARD and call the Housing Division now on [01685] 725248.

Direct Debits

If you are interested in paying your rent through direct debit please contact the Rent Section on any of the following telephone numbers:

• [01685] 725119 or;
• [01685] 726249 or;
• [01685]  725251.

Repair Contact Centre

If you need to report a repair, we have a dedicated line.  Please contact the Repair Contact Centre on: [0800] 0857843

Repairs Appointments

Appointments are available for any non-urgent internal works.  To arrange an appointment, please contact the Repair Contact Centre on [0800] 0857843