Landlords under fire for subpar living conditions
Wiltshire Council has passed a motion to improve housing standards in the area, with a focus on housing providers Aster Group and GreenSquareAccord. The motion comes in response to allegations of questionable tenant evictions and persistent issues with poor property maintenance.
The council has called for thorough investigations into the providers to ensure they are meeting their obligations towards tenants' welfare, safety, and living conditions. The council is committed to holding housing associations accountable, protecting tenants' rights, and improving overall housing quality in Wiltshire.
Aster Group and GreenSquareAccord have been under scrutiny for their practices, including the removal of tenants from houses and putting them up for sale on the open market. Both housing providers claim that property sales can help fund reinvestment and improvement of their housing stock.
However, both Aster Group and GreenSquareAccord have been criticized for selling properties that are deemed unsustainable. When properties are sold, both providers offer tailored support and compensation to affected customers, helping them move on to suitable alternative accommodation throughout the entire moving process.
Aster Group's decision to sell unsustainable properties is part of their strategy to reinvest money into building more modern, energy-efficient homes. GreenSquareAccord, too, invests in building modern, energy-efficient homes, citing their legal and ethical responsibility to make sure their homes are energy efficient and as cheap to run as possible.
Both housing providers aim to build homes that better meet their customers' needs. However, GreenSquareAccord has also been criticized for poor maintenance and excessive service charges.
Wiltshire Council's Lib Dem leader, Ian Thorn, has stated that he has seen residents living in GreenSquareAccord properties that are not fit for animals. Nick Botterill, Cabinet member for planning, described the actions of the housing providers as 'appalling and unprofessional'.
A meeting regarding this matter is set to take place on 24 July. More information on the specific issues raised, the council’s proposed actions, or background on Aster Group and GreenSquareAccord will be provided as it becomes available.
- Wiltshire Council has lined up meetings with Aster Group and GreenSquareAccord, aiming to discuss the concerns regarding their housing practices, including tenant evictions, property maintenance, and the selling of unsustainable properties.
- The council will focus on Aster Group's strategy of selling unsustainable properties to fund the construction of modern, energy-efficient homes, as well as GreenSquareAccord's questionable property maintenance and service charges.
- As the housing-market in Wiltshire faces scrutiny, the council is deliberating on ways to improve real-estate by ensuring providers like Aster Group and GreenSquareAccord meet their responsibilities, prioritizing tenants' welfare, safety, and living conditions, and investing in residential properties that offer energy efficiency and affordability.
