Huw Lewis pleased with CanDo attitude
3 Sep 2012 02:34 PM
As work continues to shape the forthcoming Housing Bill, Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis has highlighted the work being carried out by Cadwyn Housing Association in the private rented centre as a fabulous example of what can be achieved if agencies work together.
The Housing White Paper was published in May 2012 and highlights, among other things, the vital role the private rented sector can play in meeting demand for housing in the future.
The Housing Minister said,
“We had an overwhelming response to our recent consultation on the proposals contained in our White Paper, from all parts of the housing sector, and I am excited to see how these are incorporated in the Bill. These innovative and co-operative examples, shown by housing associations such as Cadwyn, are evidence of the types of results that can be achieved to help alleviate the strain on an already overburdened housing market.”
Social Letting Agencies have grown substantially in Wales over recent years. There are now agencies working in 21 of the 22 LA’s in Wales and the majority have accessed Welsh Government funding to help them establish their service.
CanDo Lettings – an arm of Cadwyn, and one of Wales’s leading social lettings agency – have made a massive difference to tenants’ lives by working in partnership with local authorities, enabling them to access private housing stock to reduce homelessness.
CanDo manages properties on behalf of private landlords and provide them to people in housing need, thereby reducing Local Authority waiting lists and homelessness.
Claire Smith is one tenant who has had her life turned around by CanDo Lettings. Claire came to CanDo after a very negative experience with her previous landlord. She and her family were living in a property that was in a very poor condition with a severe damp problem. The landlord was not prepared to do anything about the condition of their property and Claire was really concerned about the effect it was having on her family’s physical and mental health.
Eventually, Cardiff Council condemned the property and Claire and her family were forced to vacate with little notice. With no Bond or money for rent in advance, Claire had no access to privately rented accommodation and faced the prospect of homelessness. Fortunately, CanDo Lettings quickly stepped in and worked with Claire to find her a lovely four bedroom house, with no monies up front needed. CanDo Lettings took care of everything, taking the stress off Claire at a difficult time.
Claire commented,
"Before I came to CanDo Lettings I was living in squalor and the landlord was getting away with it. The CanDo team have been wonderful and I am so grateful to them for providing me with a lovely home. I really can’t thank them enough!"
Ben Reynolds, a Negotiator for CanDo Lettings said,
"When I first met Claire she was trembling and obviously very traumatised. She couldn’t believe the difference in what CanDo were doing compared to what she had been through with her previous landlord and she cried when I told her she could move into the property. I managed to get her moved in within one day and I could see the physical relief on her when she realised her family had somewhere nice to live and a fresh start."
This is just one example of the difference that CanDo Lettings has made to tenants’ lives by working in partnership with the private rented sector. With the private rented sector becoming increasingly important and as Wales’ leading social lettings agency, CanDo looks set to continue its success in providing homes and making a difference to the lives of people in need.
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