The Welsh Housing Quality StandardThe Welsh Assembly Government have stated that all Council properties must be:
- In a good state of repair
- Safe and secure
- Adequately heated, fuel efficient, well insulated
- Contain up to date kitchens and bathrooms
- Located in an attractive environment
- Suit the specific needs of the household
The challenge that we face is to ensure that every one of our homes meets the standard - but we do not have all of the funding needed to carry out the work. A similar problem faced by the majority of Welsh councils.
An independent Stock Condition Survey has estimated the cost of improving homes in Merthyr Tydfil by 2012 is around £69 million. However, the Council has estimated it would only have around £40 million available. It is estimated that £367 million is needed to improve and maintain homes over the next 30 years.
Strict Government rules mean that the Council is unable to borrow the money needed to improve its homes to the standard.
Therefore, the Council carried out an options appraisal to find a solution to the problem.
Based on the evidence available the Council agreed that tenants should decide whether they wanted to remain with the Council as their landlord which would mean that the improvements could not be provided by 2012, of if they wanted to transfer ownership to Merthyr Valleys Homes who would be able to raise the funding required to achieve the standard by the deadline.
Merthyr Valleys Homes would be governed by different rules and it would be able to borrow the funding required using the value of the properties as an asset; funding would be available to improve all properties up to the standard, maintain them and improve services, without affecting rent levels.
Merthyr Valleys Homes would be not-for-profit so all funding and income would have to be used to improve and develop your homes.
Importantly, rents would remain affordable, rights and entitlements would be protected and staff would keep their jobs.
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