Lettings process starts for new council homes in Rotherham

Property adverts are now displaying the first of the 127 brand new homes being built by the Council on six sites across the borough.

The first to be let will be the 36 houses and apartments currently being completed on a site in Thrybergh by builders George Hurst and Sons Ltd.

The £2.3 million scheme at Wood Street will result in 28 two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as eight two-bedroom apartments. Four and three bed houses on Newland Avenue at Maltby, which will be ready at the same time, are also being advertised now.

The first tenants, who will enjoy properties built over and above the typical open-market house building standards, will have to meet the criteria of the local lettings policy for new-build properties.

Anyone thinking of applying for one of the new council homes should look out for the adverts via Key Choices, based in Rotherham's Old Town Hall, as well as at Customer Service Centres, Neighbourhood Offices and the internet.

Properties will be offered solely to existing Rotherham Council Tenant Transfer applicants who have made a request and who have held a council tenancy in Rotherham for the past two years. They must also have a clear rent account and no housing management issues, such as anti-social behaviour, property damage or misuse.

In addition, at least ten per cent of the new council homes will be let to applicants who are in paid work.  This could either be the main or joint applicant.  Plus some of the new homes are for applicants with physical disabilities. These will be allocated separately to Key Choices.

The Thrybergh properties will be the first to be completed. Other properties to come available throughout the year include 29 at Albert Road, West Melton; 29 at Rother View, Canklow; 21 properties at Albany Road, Kilnhurst; eight at Newland Avenue, Maltby; and four at Stone Park Close in Maltby. The housing provision for disabled people comprises five properties on Wood Street; one at Albert Road and two at Newlands Avenue.

In addition to the 127 new homes currently in progress, the Council has also just secured further funding of £224,500 for five more new council homes in Brinsworth. The new properties, comprising two pairs of semi-detached houses and one detached house, will be built on a council-owned site at Whitehill Road. This will bring the total number of new council homes that will be completed by the summer to 132.
 
Last year Rotherham was very successful in its bids to the National Affordable Housing programme - receiving £8.5 million specifically for the building of brand-new council housing.

Cllr Jahangir Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Safe and Attractive Neighbourhoods, said that the fact that Rotherham was so such successful was due to the authority's proven ability in delivering investment programmes.

He added: "The money was secured through a highly competitive bid process and our success demonstrated the confidence that the Homes and Community Agency has in Rotherham's strategic case for more affordable housing and our record of delivering housing investment programmes.

"As a result we will now be able to offer 132 brand-new council homes for rent to existing council tenants, which in turn will free-up much-needed accommodation for people on the housing register. The first will be completed and handed over next month (March) with the remainder being completed and handed over in phases in the run up to summer."