Keeping Rents Affordable for Council House Tenants Proves Challenging
Carmarthenshire faces tough decisions as council house rents rise amid rising costs
Carmarthenshire, Wales, Council Housing, Rent Increase, Affordable Homes
Carmarthenshire: Rent for council house tenants is set to rise by 2.7% in April, which is about £2.85 more each week. While this increase is one of the lowest in two decades, it still puts pressure on many families.
The council will discuss this proposed increase, and it needs full approval to go ahead. Cllr Alun Lenny mentioned that costs for housing contractors and National Insurance contributions are climbing, making it tough to keep rents affordable.
If approved, tenants will pay an average of £108.59 weekly, which is still lower than private rental prices. A report showed that 40% of tenants rely on universal credit, while others receive various forms of housing benefits. Thankfully, rent arrears have only slightly increased.
The council plans to invest £282 million over the next three years to maintain housing and build affordable homes. They’re facing a big challenge, as the demand for affordable housing is outpacing what’s available.
Every week, around 35 households in the county report being homeless, but only 15 social homes are typically available. There are over 150 families in temporary housing, and many need single-person accommodations. Recent immigration policies and early prisoner releases are adding to the pressure.
Energy-efficient homes are being built, like the ones in Dylan near Llanelli. The council’s £50 million investment will help fund new builds and buy private homes for temporary accommodation. They’re also looking to develop larger council housing sites, though specific locations are still unclear.
Housing associations and developers are also working on affordable homes. Currently, 144 council homes are empty, with work ongoing in nearly half of them. Cllr Evans noted that this number of vacant properties is quite low, but it does take time to get them ready for new tenants.
In terms of heating, just over 20% of council homes use oil, while more than two-thirds rely on gas. A council officer mentioned that they plan to add more air source heat pumps in the future, which should help improve energy efficiency.