Finally, action on Sale and Rent back schemes

The Financial Services Authority and HM Treasury announced today that they are working with lenders to make sure they are treating mortgage customers in arrears fairly. Emphasis needs to be placed on the individual merits of each case, with possession only a last resort. They also announced that they will be regulating Sale and Rent back schemes under the offices of the FSA

Last year according to the Financial Service Authority (FSA) the number of people who had their homes repossessed in the second quarter of 2008 increased by 71 per cent. 11,054 homes were repossessed in the three months to the end of June 08, compared with 6,476 during the same three months of 2007. Repossessions were also significantly up in the last quarter of 2008. Early forecasts state that the first quarter of 2009 will fair no better for the sector.

The Welsh Tenants Federation welcomes the news following concerns last year, that all was not well with sale and rent back schemes. Steve Clarke, policy and projects coordinator said.

‘Brining Sale and Rent back schemes under the regulation of the FSA, is the best way to ensure that the consumer interest are safeguarded following some appalling cases last year. People faced with losing their homes due to rent arrears see these schemes as a lifeline to safeguard their home. However, some have found that the scheme does not protect them at all, being evicted in a relatively short time thereafter, or having their rents hiked to the extent that they can no longer afford the payments’.

‘Alongside measures introduced by the Welsh Assembly Government to provide regulated mortgage to rent schemes, we are pleased to see that action is finally being taken to protect vulnerable consumers affected by the recent financial turmoil. Finally, it appears that both ends of the spectrum are now being tackled’.

If you are in difficulties paying your mortgage or are facing repossession you should always talk to your lender and seek independent advice. Details about mortgage rescue schemes are available on the Welsh Assembly Government web site.

Telephone: 01685 729156 or 01685 729157, E-mail: shg@wales.gsi.gov.uk

For independent advice:

Contact Shelter Cymru on 0845 075 5005 or visit their website. http://www.sheltercymru.org.uk/shelter/home/

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau are in the phone book or visit their website. http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

WAG Consultation Paper - Sustainable Homes: A National Strategy For Wales

The Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies AM has launched the consultation document Sustainable Homes: A National Housing Strategy for Wales on 29th January. At the event, the Deputy Minister underlined the commitment to build more sustainable homes for the future, working with the registered social landlord and private sector to help regenerate areas of Wales.

The Deputy Minister also emphasised the need for the right mix of housing and that housing is the catalyst to improve lives and strengthening communities, making them more sustainable for the future by radically reducing the ecological footprint. This can only be achieved by working in partnership.

The launch took place in the Alway Centre, Broadheath Newport, where Newport City Council have been regenerating the area providing 250 new homes built by Bellway.
The Regeneration project, which has received a high level of community involvement, provides new shopping facilities, a community hall and a multi user games area. A training initiative has also been established with the local Hartridge comprehensive school.

Of the 250 new homes, 50 are part funded by Social Housing Grant to provide affordable rent or low cost home ownership via the Seren Group. The Council are also continuing their significant levels of programmed improvements to existing properties in the area. The hallmark of the whole project has been the extremely high degree of community involvement.


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Copies of the documents can be obtained from the Welsh Tenants Federation www.welshtenantsfed.org.uk or by visiting http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/housingcommunity/housingstrategy/?lang=en

WTF news – help for landlord and tenant

Landlord Accreditation Wales Scheme

A Wales-wide scheme has been launched to provide advice and support to landlords to provide good, well managed accommodation.

The scheme aims to make it easier for landlords with single or smaller portfolios keep up with changing legislative and administrative requirements.

The landlord receives the accreditation, not the property. To become accredited a landlord will need to:

• attend a one day development course
• agree to follow a code of conduct
• be a fit and proper person

The scheme is supported by Local Authorities and key professional bodies. it will reduce disputes on property condition and tenancy issues. This will leave Councils more resources to deal with the landlords whose properties and management practices will not improve without intervention.

For more information visit the Landlord Accreditation website

WCVA Training

Looking for new training opportunities? The Wales Co-operative Centre has announced training dates up until March 2009.

Its workshops cover a range of subjects including Business Planning, Marketing, Managing Performance and Recruiting Volunteers.

To get a copy of the timetable call 029 2055 4955 or log on to www.walescoop.com.


The Wales Co-operative Centre is a leading provider of training for the Third Sector in Wales. Its workshops are specifically designed for new or existing businesses including credit unions, co-operatives, social enterprises and other not-for-profit groups. Training is available to members, directors, employees and volunteers. The Centre has been supporting the Third Sector for over 25 years. Its experienced team of trainers are equipped with the specialist knowledge and skills to ensure that all its training is practical, relevant, inspiring and enjoyable.

Key Tenants Advocate Project (KTAP) Update - Statement to Members

The Welsh Tenants Federation has budgeted 3,000 to pay expenses and meet other costs of the key tenant scheme.

There are currently 4 key tenants on our books that have received training. Chris Brock, Phil Davies, (SW) Gerry Stevens (SE), Dave Rimmer (North Wales). CB, PD and GS have been active. Peter Bungay supervises the Key Tenants and Steve Clarke manages the scheme.

The role of the key tenant requires that they commit up to 5 hours per week voluntary and are able to travel in the region to support the development officer to set up new groups and assist in gathering evidence or information concerning helpline cases.

There are currently 3 people who have expressed an interest in being a key tenant. Key tenants have to complete an application form and make themselves available for training. People will be selected on the basis of demand for additional support in that area.

The budget for the KTS is not a designated ring fenced budget, therefore can be used in other ways to support any volunteering required to be undertaken by the management committee. This is a sensible approach since policy commitments may require management committee member to attend WAG or other policy events to ensure the WTF is visible and active on policy consultations.

Requests by national management committee directors to attend events are considered from time to time, the KTS budget is therefore also used as an overflow budget if this exceeds the allowances we have for NMC meetings and events.

In recent years, we have considerably changed the scheme with specific policy’s and procedures. We have developed a lone working policy (recently approved by NMC), data protection, consent enquiry, new forms for recording information and other measures to ensure that the clients and volunteers are safe and secure and protected.

The national management committee have also recently agreed that Criminal Record Bureau checks are also undertaken on volunteers and staff.

We are endeavouring to provide time to support more key tenants and will also seek to ensure that the principles of the scheme are extended to other projects we develop. However, capacity is at maximum at the moment with demand for support around 250 helpline cases p.a. forecast for 2008-9 up from 205 in 2007-8 and 80 in 2006-7.

Cheryl Budge, Company Secretary

Steve Clarke, Policy & Projects coordinator

PRESS RELEASE - Poor report from Wales Audit Office

Bro Myrddin Housing Association has received a ‘scope for considerable improvement’ rating from the Wales Audit Office (WAO), the organisation commissioned by the regulatory to inspect housing association performance in Wales.

The Wales Audit Office discovered there were concerns in seven key areas of service delivery and failed to demonstrate capability and was unlikely to make significant improvements in the future due to limitations in its capacity and weaknesses in its approach to strategic planning, management of performance and organisational support said the Wales Audit Office report.

Jeremy Colman, Auditor General for Wales, said “The services provided by Bro Myrddin Housing Association are consistently below the standard tenants are entitled to receive. The Association clearly needs to implement major changes in nearly all areas of its operations. The recommendations in this report will support the Association to set a clearer strategic direction, improve its planning and monitoring and become more resident-focused.”

The Welsh Tenants Federation are concerned that yet another small association in West Wales has been found to be not providing the level of services we would expect of modern housing associations. We will want to see the recommendations offered by the WAO implemented immediately with closer monitoring by the regulator to ensure that tenants begin to see improvements in the services they pay for.

“The report underlines the importance of a robust independent regulatory inspection system that highlights these failings”, said Steve Clarke, Policy and Projects Coordinator for the Welsh Tenants Federation. “Under the current review of the regulatory function suggested by the Essex report, we will want to see that such inspection processes are at least as robust as those in place currently, and that regulatory response to poor performance support tenants and the landlord to improve service standards”.

1. Further information can be obtained from the www.welshtenantsfed.org.uk

2. A copy of the report can be found at http://www.wao.gov.uk/news_2343.asp or by contacting the Welsh Tenants Federation at the address below.

--- CONTACT DETAILS ---

For further information please contact:
Steve Clarke, Policy Officer & Projects Coordinator
Welsh Tenants Federation
Milbourne Chambers
Glebeland Street
Merthyr Tydfil
CF 47 8AT

Mobile: 07879815479
Tel: 01685723922
Fax: 01685 722801
Email: steve@welshtenantsfed.org.uk
www.welshtenantsfed.org.uk

Breaking News - Ceredigion tenants vote in favour of housing stock transfer

Ceredigion County Council yesterday, (Tuesday 18 November 2008), received the result of a ballot of its tenants on the question as to whether or not they supported the transfer of Ceredigion's housing stock to the Tai Ceredigion Housing Association.

The figures for those who voted are as follows

Yes votes – 1,067 (58.3%)

No votes – 763 (41.7%)

Invalid papers - 3

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Turn-out percentage – 69.93%

Numbers eligible to vote – 2,621

Numbers who voted – 1,833

Further information can be found -

http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=11460


"I am very pleased with the outcome of the vote, we (the tenants) have been working for 2 - 3 years towards this goal and I am looking forward to seeing the houses brought up to the 21st Century." Gail McFee, Vice Chair of the now board of Tai Ceredigion