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Minister visits NEW Homes

Published: 12/02/2015

Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, is visiting Penyffordd this Thursday (12 February) to find out more about North East Wales (NEW) Homes, an affordable housing company set up by Flintshire County Council. Officers and councillors will highlight how the company has helped the Council overcome obstacles to provide more affordable housing options for local residents. As part of her visit, the Minister will be visiting one of the new build properties owned and managed by the company and will also meet one of the new tenants. Flintshire won a prestigious Welsh Housing Award for being the first authority in Wales to set up its own housing company. In addition to renting out its own properties, NEW Homes runs a range of offers for landlords which all include a ‘tenant ready’ service. The company is offering a fully managed letting and property management service and also a unique offer for home owners over 55 to lease their properties to the company and access suitable council accommodation. Lesley Griffiths AM said: “It is good to see such an innovative scheme as NEW Homes in action. It is making a real difference locally by providing a number of different ways to assist those in housing need. I am pleased to see how schemes such as this one can not only improve housing standards and supply, but also the wider impact they can have on local communities.” Councillor Bernie Attridge, Deputy Leader and Chairman of NEW Homes said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome the Minister and to show her first hand how successful NEW Homes has been. NEW Homes was established to provide a new alternative, affordable, housing offer for local people, who either can’t afford high private landlords rents, and/ or don’t qualify for a Council house.” Councillor Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “We are very proud of NEW Homes, which is an innovative solution to the problems faced by many households who can’t afford market rents but don’t qualify for council housing. We are pleased that the idea is receiving significant recognition at a national level, both in terms of our award and with the Minister showing such a keen interest in the scheme.” To find out more about the company and the services offered, please visit the NEW Homes website www.northeastwaleshomes.co.uk or call NEW Homes on 01352 701400.