Support to move home helps Kirkholt couple

Ranjo Ali and Lenka Gajdosova moved from their one bedroom Kirkholt flat to their new home in Spotland in October. Mr Ali, who works at a wholesale electrical shop in Manchester, met Ms Gajdosova at Hopwood Hall College where they were both studying English.

The couple got in touch with the Vision for Kirkholt team when they heard about the plans.

Mr Ali and Ms Gajdosova were very pleased with the opportunity to move to a new home. Having got in touch with the team, they got all the help they needed from Project Assistant Linda Byrne. “Linda was fabulous. If we had any problems, she was always ready to help. Arranging the move just took a few days”, Ms Gajdosova explained.

Mr Ali and Ms Gajdosova decided to rent privately and found their new home on the internet. Their new home had been for sale but with the slowdown of the housing market the owners were happy to rent it out.

Mr Ali said: “When we first saw our new home, it was all that we wanted. It was just what we imagined it should be. The chance to move has been a major turning point in our lives. In the future we want to look at the possibility of buying our home.”

Having both moved to Rochdale, Mr Ali and Ms Gajdosova are very happy living in the town. Mr Ali added: “When we have been away, it feels like coming home. We could have chosen to live elsewhere, possibly in Manchester, but we like how close we are here to beautiful countryside.”

Ms Gajdosova said: “I think that things have improved on Kirkholt over the last few years, it’s become a much safer place. Demolishing some of the properties has been a good thing for Kirkholt.”

Mr Ali and Ms Gajdosova are also very impressed by the plans for Kirkholt, and would even think about moving back one day: “We were delighted to hear that people care about Kirkholt. The area has certainly got a lot better.”

Vision for Kirkholt will clear the site bordered by Cumberland Road and Curzon Road later this year. Brighter Horizons, RBH’s charitable subsidiary are intending to build 30 new high quality three- and four-bedroom homes on the site.

Oldham Rochdale Housing Market Renewal is working with Rochdale Council and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to improve the choice and quality of homes available on Kirkholt.