Plan for job and affordable homes backed in Powys (Kirsty Williams AM )

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Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Plan for job and affordable homes backed in Powys

March 2, 2009 12:00 AM

Kirsty is pictured opening the Melin Homes Mynydd Gerdd Housing development in Crickhowell in November 2008, which includes a number of affordable homes.

Liberal Democrats in Powys have welcomed plans to boost affordable housing and avoid home repossession.

The plans, launched by the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable MP and Shadow Housing Minister Sarah Teather MP, include:

providing refurbishment loans for owners of empty homes if the homes are leased to housing associations,

boosting the amount of private housing for rent including using empty commercial property temporarily as housing,

bringing in a new type of secure mortgage to help boost lending to house buyers,

letting councils and housing associations buy up unsold private houses and allowing them access to funds to bring them homes up to social housing standards,

making sure the courts allow repossession only as a last resort.

Kirsty Williams AM said, "Many people in Brecon & Radnorshire are struggling to get their own home or are facing repossession because of the recession. We must do all we can to help residents through these bad times. Figures for 2006-7 put homelessness rates in Powys at 7.3 %, one of the highest in Wales, and this figure is likely to have risen further during the housing crisis and recession.

"Many homes built just before the recession started lie empty, often because the banks are not lending to people wanting to buy, yet there are many people needing a place to live. We want to unblock the system and our plans will help to do that.

"Giving housing associations and councils the opportunity to buy up empty homes that builders cannot sell will mean hundreds of local families will be able to rent a place of their own.

"Many privately owned homes stand empty so leasing them to housing associations means people can move into homes that would otherwise remain unused.

"And making sure that the courts only allow homes to be repossessed as an absolute last resort will save many families across Powys from the terrible situation of having their home taken away from them."