Concerns raised that council house swaps with England could impact Welsh language
Dale Spridgeon, Local Democracy Reporter
Concerns have been raised that council homes in “nice, coastal areas” being swapped with council houses in England could have a “significant impact” on the Welsh language.
Arfon Wyn, the councillor for Bro Aberffraw, Anglesey, raised the matter during a corporate scrutiny meeting of Anglesey County Council on Wednesday, November 18.
According to rules, a council house or housing association tenant can swap homes with other social tenants through the mutual exchange scheme.
The process is a way for social housing tenants to move without having to go on a waiting list.
During the meeting, Cllr Wyn said he wanted to ask a question and needed to “respond” to what was happening in his and fellow Bro Aberffraw councillor Cllr John Ifan Jones’s catchment area.
“There are a lot of homes still empty in Aberffraw, that are meant to be rented out to people who really need homes,” Cllr Wyn said.
“One thing that concerns me, is that people in the nice areas on the coast, so to speak, can swap homes with people in towns in England on Facebook.
“I know it is something to do with the government, unfortunately, but there are also homes that have been empty for quite a while in Aberffraw.
“We have had a few enquiries about this from the public and people in the area.
“These two things concern me, especially in my area, where there are nice places to retire to and so on, the impact on the Welsh language can be significant.”
Responding with regard to empty homes Cllr Carwyn Jones, said: “There is an empty homes officer in the council and it is possible to report homes to the officer and if these homes have come to look untidy they can be proactive and write to the owners and offer support to bringing them back into use.”
Cllr Wyn replied: “We have done that, and there are still some homes that have been empty since I have been a councillor.
“It causes concern and will reflect on our turn-around figures to get homes ready to put people back in to them.”
Also responding to the comments, the council’s leader Cllr Gary Pritchard said: “If you are aware of any particular homes that are council homes contact the portfolio holder and head of service with those references and they will be able to look into this.
“We are aware of some homes that have been bought back by the council to be used, but this takes more time due to the rules over renting homes.
“Regarding whether a social tenant can swap with a social tenant in another county or another country, that is legislation that we have no control over.
“Unfortunately we can’t stop anyone from making that arrangement, if two tenants come to an agreement, it’s legislation, we can’t intervene with that.”
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Da Iawn , Arfon Wyn for raising this absurb and arcane legislation- social housing swaps really must be restrcted in Wales in so far Swaps can only be made in Wales and cross border swaps prohibited
Even if restricted within Wales you could get unintended consequences. The primary rule should always be that priority be given to local needs. Why overlook someone on local waiting list in favour of someone who might be living 50 or 100 miles away ?
I agree. It should be prioritised for the Local Authority area first, then nearby communities in an adjoining Welsh Authority. This loophole needs sorting.
This rule should be seen in the same way as right to buy. It’s a nice idea when there’s plenty of stock. Until then it should be suspended, as Wales managed to do with RTB despite being a UK policy.
Nothing you can do about I’m afraid unless you want to get all Farage about it. The occupants coming to the area could be from anywhere in the world. You wouldn’t be allowed to have a ‘Welsh/Welsh-speakers only’ policy any more than a council in Kent could have an ‘English/English-speakers only’ policy.
But you can have a “local connections only” policy.
Why on an earth where they built in the first place then? Obviously no local need if they’re empty. The local population is falling so obviously no need for all these houses. Death by infiltration.
Why is this councillor dreaming up scenarios that don’t happen now?
Who in their right mind is swapping a house ‘some where nice’ in Wales for a council house in England?