Landmark council homes to be let

THE first council homes to be built by Rotherham Council for 30 years are now being advertised – but they are only available to existing tenants with a clean record.

Builders are currently working on 127 new homes for the local authority on six sites across the borough.

Among the first to be let will be 36 houses and apartments currently being completed on a site in Thrybergh.

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The 2.3m scheme at Wood Street includes 28 two- three- and four-bedroom houses as well as eight two-bedroom apartments.

Houses with three and four bedrooms on Newland Avenue, Maltby, which will be ready at the same time, are also being advertised now.

The council said 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.

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Last year Rotherham Council made several bids to the national Affordable Housing programme and received 8.5m from the Homes and Communities Agency for the building of new council housing.

Coun Jahangir Akhtar, the authority's housing spokesman, said: "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 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 with the remainder being completed and handed over in phases in the run up to summer."