Change of re-housing policy proposal

Date published: 08 February 2008


A proposal has been made to amend Rochdale Borough re-housing policy which currently disbars Rochdale Boroughwide Housing from allowing families with children over the age of ten to be considered for accommodation above two floors.

The change in policy proposed would allow families with young children to be re-housed in third floor and above flats. It is felt the change is needed because of a shortage of family accommodation with up to 35 applicants for each available property.

The proposal has however raised concerns for parents who may struggle to negotiate flights of stairs with push chairs and also the fear of children falling from upper storey windows.

Labour Councillor Susan Emmott said she is "perturbed". She added: "We all know the places offered will be the hard to shift flats that no one wants to live in and given this and the fact that the policy has been in place 25 years there will be no children's facilities."

Heywood Councillor Colin Lambert said he did not want to see a refusal of an offer of such accommodation count towards the limit of three refusals and also insisted there must be adequate window locks for child safety reasons.

Council Leader Alan Taylor accepted the views and ideas of Councillors Emmott and Lambert and agreed with their suggestion that the proposal be referred to the Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

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