Call On Curo For Seven-Day Housing Turnaround

Concerns are being raised about the length of time it’s taking to re-let a number of social housing properties across Bath and North East Somerset, with more needing to be done to speed up the re-homing process.

In Albert Avenue, Peasedown St John, a bungalow has stood empty for almost two months, whilst nearly 4,000 people currently wait on the social housing waiting list for somewhere new to live.

Julie Gregory, who suffers with disabilities which means she finds it difficult to move about, has been registering her intention every week with the council’s Homesearch Department since last year, only to be refused every time.

She said: “If I had the chance to live in a Curo property it would make a huge difference to my quality of life. I could have adaptations which would make things like showering and mobility so much easier.

“If properties like these are not being let to those who qualify quickly then that will make people suffer and stay in a stressful situation which may become too much to manage, I know I’m struggling big time!

“Even in my condition where I find it difficult to walk, I am being offered flats, from 1^st floor to 6^th floor, where sometimes there is no lift.

“More needs to be done to make bungalows like this one in Albert Avenue more quickly available.”

The empty bungalow is on a list of several that have seen long periods of no action or movement in the past twelve months.

Peasedown councillor Nathan Hartley says it’s not good enough:

“Every week I have people like Julie coming to me asking for help with finding a new home. It’s extremely important that Curo Housing Association do all they can to make properties available in a faster period of time.

“Realistically, seven days should be the target – and only under exceptional circumstances should this be broken.”

Nathan also believes that a quicker turnaround will help B&NES Council meet government demands to provide more homes.

“With pressure from government to build more homes across the district, by ensuring that the more than 500 properties currently sitting empty are occupied this will ease pressure on demands.”