Wrexham in North Wales (Image: Getty)
A Welsh council has been slammed for “ignoring the elderly” after scrapping their home for “only over-50s” scheme – in case they are sued for age discrimination.
Leaders at Wrexham County Borough Council, led by an independent coalition, used to reserve some social housing solely for older tenants with a ‘no under-50s rule’.
The idea was for the elderly to feel safer living with neighbours of a similar age, and not hemmed in by swathes of young residents or difficult families who may make their lives a misery.
But last week Wrexham agreed to axe the policy – and allow houses and flats to be allocated to any age – by claiming it may have left them open to being sued for age discrimination.
Shocked Dennis Reed of age support campaigners Silver Voices, told the Daily Express: “This is just another example of provisions for the elderly being ignored and certainly not fully being considered.
“Age discrimination law is so woolly anyway, the council here maybe need to think about what legal advice they had before coming to this decision.”
Urban and light industrial sprawl in North Wales (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
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While worried Plaid Cymru Council Marc Jones warned: “The proposal to get rid of the local lettings policy gives me cause for concern. I feel in some circumstances it would be problematic.”
The lettings provision policy change – which will come in on March 17th – does not affect sheltered accommodation or bungalows – which will continue to be allocated to residents over-60 based on need.
Head of Housing Tracy Hague said that the policy needed to end to prevent tenants bringing possible age discrimination cases against the council.
She said: “What we’re looking to do is remove local lettings policies for general need properties and review that over two years to see if that assists us in any way in bringing down the waiting list.
“When we undertook the impact assessment it showed we could be challenged over discrimination with regard to the general need blocks. We will be monitoring to make sure that, in fact, it is beneficial to the people of Wrexham.”
While council leader Mark Pritchard supported the proposal adding: “Having seen the assessment I’m surprised we haven’t had a legal challenge in the past.”
Cllr Dana Davies raised concerns over the lack of a specific reference to those fleeing domestic violence or fearing a threat to life in the new allocations policy.
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Wrexham Councillor Marc Jones, of the Plaid Cymru Group (Image: handout)
But Ms Hague explained that where there is an immediate danger of domestic abuse or threat to life vulnerable individuals and dependents are found emergency temporary accommodation.
Councillor David A Bithell, the lead member for Housing, said earlier this month it is important Wrexham addresses local housing challenges.
He emphasised the council’s commitment to robust monitoring and management, including a planned 12-month review to assess the impact of the changes, adding: “I’ve got lots of concerns about it, but we will have to manage that.
“We do get difficult cases in individual areas where we have a mix of older people and younger people, and sometimes it does cause conflict, and we have to get involved. It’s a part of life.”
Cllr Bithell said regardless, the council could not afford to leave properties underutilised: “I do, I share the concerns. I really do, but we’ve also got 3000 people on the waiting list.”