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Council’s Housing Award success
Published: 26/11/2014
North East Wales (NEW) Homes, Flintshire Council’s affordable housing company,
has won a prestigious Welsh Housing Award.
Flintshire won the New Idea of the Year award for being the first authority in
Wales to set up its own housing company. It beat stiff competition from three
other projects at the awards, which are organised by the Chartered Institute of
Housing.
Designed to respond to the challenges experienced by residents in accessing
affordable housing, NEW Homes has been set up by the Council to increase the
housing options available to local residents. It offers a number of tailored
housing management services which are designed to increase the quantity and
quality of affordable housing across the county.
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.
Councillor Bernie Attridge, Deputy Leader and Chairman of NEW Homes said:
“I am absolutely delighted that Flintshire has been recognised nationally for
our innovative work in tackling the issues of affordable housing for our
residents. 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. The company’s success in our
first year is extremely pleasing.
Councillor Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “We are very proud to
have won this award. NEW Homes is an innovative solution to the problems faced
by many households who can’t afford market rents but don’t qualify for council
housing and we are pleased that the idea has been recognised at the highest
professional level.”
The team received their award at a ceremony on Friday 21 November at The Vale
Resort, Vale of Glamorgan.
Find out more about the company and the services offered by visiting the NEW
Homes website www.northeastwaleshomes.co.uk or calling NEW Homes on 01352
701400.
Image
Caption: Pictured from front left to right are Cllr Bernie Attridge, Cllr Helen
Brown, Colin Everett (Chief Executive FCC), (front) Cllr Glenys Diskin JP
(Chair of Flintshire County Council), Clare Budden (Chief Officer Community and
Enterprise) with members of the Housing Team.