Council housing needs updating

The houses, owned by the local authority, need �274m spent on them but councillors have a �200m shortfall to find.

Many of the homes were built in the 1920s and have never had their bathrooms and kitchens updated.

Local residents will be asked to vote for or against transferring the ownership and management of the council houses to a not-for-profit organisation.

Chris Thomas lives in a council house in Wrexham and is a member of the town's tenants' association.

It's not luxury, it's not gold taps, it's about properties having modern kitchens and bathrooms Paul Calland Wrexham Council

She said people desperately need home improvements.

"Many tenants have a coal fire and that's it - even in the summer they have to light the coal fire to get hot water.

"We've even got tenants who don't have double glazing," she added.

If tenants vote in favour of the transfer an independent housing association called Wrexham Housing - Tai Wrecsam would be set up by the council.

Housing officer Paul Calland said an independent organisation would be able to borrow money which the local authority cannot.

Rent

"Around �274m needs to be spent on council homes in Wrexham....the council only has �62m over the next 10 years to invest so there's a big gap," he said.

"The Welsh assembly government has set a standard that all social housing must reach by 2012.

"It's not luxury, it's not gold taps, it's about properties having modern kitchens and bathrooms."

Fifteen unpaid people will make up the Wrexham housing board, including councillors, tenants and people with specialist skills.

Currently, the average council house tenant pays �42 per week rent and Mr Calland pledged a transfer of services would not lead to rent hikes.

"Rent will be going up at the same rate," he said.

Tenants will vote on the scheme between the end of this year and spring 2003.

If they vote in favour, stock will be transferred three to four months later.

If the householders vote against the initiative Wrexham council will retain ownership of the 13,000 homes.