Just Two Tenancies Created Through Dropped Monmouthshire Council Scheme

JUST two tenancies were created through a now dropped council scheme that aimed to encourage homeowners with spare rooms to take in lodgers. 
The spare room scheme was intended as a solution to the demand for affordable housing in Monmouthshire which has some of the highest house prices in Wales. 
There are currently some 3,000 people on the county council managed housing waiting list with around 2,000 classed as “in need”, Ian Bakewell the strategic housing manager told the people scrutiny committee. 
Conservative councillor Penny Jones asked “what happened” to a spare bedroom project where the council would ask hose with empty rooms to accommodate someone looking for a home. 
The Raglan councillor said: “I didn’t think it was a particularly good idea but for some older people with larger properties it might be.” 
Mr Bakewell said the scheme was dropped, believed to be some time ago, as it hadn’t proved successful. 
He said: “Years ago we identified a bit of funding to develop a project to identify people with a spare bedroom willing to take in a lodger. 
“It employed two part-time individuals but realistically there was little success. It possibly managed to accommodate two people, though one was quite successful and was a long term placement. 
“It was a housing option that didn’t bring much to the table and we didn’t continue with it.” 
The officer had told the committee Monmouthshire is seeing a trend of homeless applications reducing which was attributed to preventative work by the council but expensive rents still mean many are unable to find a home through private housing. 
The council adopted a rapid rehousing plan, intended to prevent homelessness and ensure any period without a permanent home is brief and offer support, in 2023. 
Councils are also required to have a housing support programme. Monmouthshire’s was adopted in 2022, and reviewed in 2024, and though a new programme, to guide the council’s response to homelessness and support, was due this year the Welsh Government said it should be delayed to align with new guidance and a local housing market assessment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​