GWYNEDD Council is working with the housing association Adra on its “Buy to Let” scheme to provide more affordable housing for the county's residents.

Since 2021, the council has been buying and upgrading houses to be let through the Buy to Let scheme.

This is part of the council's £140million Housing Action Plan, which aims to address the county's shortage of homes, and ensure that residents have access to affordable and high quality housing.

The aim of the Buy to Let scheme is to buy 100 properties to let during the six years of the Housing Action Plan.

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Currently, 20 properties have been purchased by the council, with another five in the process of completion, which means the council is on track to reach its targets.

Many of these houses are located in areas where many people struggle to find affordable housing, such as the communities of Aberdyfi, Llanberis, Porthmadog, and Pen Llŷn.

Through this partnership, Adra will take on the role of managing the property on behalf of Gwynedd Council.

To apply for one of the homes, Gwynedd Council and Adra emphasise the importance of registering with Tai Teg, the body that administers the council's affordable housing schemes.

Alongside these purchases, the council's Housing Action Plan also includes schemes to tackle homelessness, bring empty homes back into use, build new homes, and offer equity loans through the Gwynedd Homebuy scheme to help people buy homes from the open market.

Cllr Craig ab Iago, housing and property cabinet member, said: “The housing crisis is still as alive as ever, and the council continues to act proactively to provide as many opportunities as possible for the people of Gwynedd to live locally through the Housing Action Plan.

“This new partnership between Cyngor Gwynedd and Adra represents our collaborative effort to tackle this crisis.

“With the scheme to buy private houses to let to local people, this practical collaboration means that both organisations bring their strengths to the table – combining expertise to find real solutions to the serious housing situation that we’re all facing.

“Through schemes like these, the council remains steadfast in its commitment to building stronger communities by providing suitable, high quality and affordable homes that improves the quality of lives.”

Sarah Schofield, Adra's director of customers and communities, said: “We are extremely proud to be able to collaborate with Cyngor Gwynedd in order to facilitate the Buy to Let scheme. 

“We will use our expertise to manage the property on behalf of the council, as well as providing affordable housing for local residents through Tai Teg’s intermediate rent scheme.

“We are in a housing crisis. There is a huge demand for quality affordable housing in Gwynedd, which also reflects the national picture.

“This proves that by working together, this issue could be solved. It’s clear that collaboration is one of the solutions to tackling housing issues in North Wales.”