Product category:
Housing, Regeneration and Developments
News Release from: LHA-ASRA Group | Subject: Linkup with Camelot Property Protection
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 April 2008
ASRA welcomes 'guardians' at
International House
ASRA linkup with 'house-sitting' company Camelot Property Protection which is providing 12 'guardians' to live at development in Woolwich before work starts to create 123 new affordable apartments.
The guardians include teachers and nurses, the 'key workers' who so often find it difficult to afford to live in the capital However, through this arrangement, Camelot Property Protection is giving them the opportunity to do just that by charging them rent at far lower than market value
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 2 Aug 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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From showroom to show home
Disused car showroom in Leyton, east London, acquired by ASRA Greater London Housing Association in May last year, has made way for a development of new affordable homes for local people.
The arrangement offers other advantages for ASRA, with major cost savings over the use of on-site security, freeing up funds to channel into development work.
Meanwhile the fact that the development in Brookhill Road, currently a hostel, is continually occupied, serves to deter potential criminal activity on the site.
Issues such as fire prevention, safety, access, and maintenance of the building are also being managed by Camelot, providing a complete turnkey solution for ASRA.
Mukhtar Latif, LHA-ASRA Group Development Director, commented: "There is often a significant time lag between the acquisition of sites and the start of development work, while plans are finalised and approved and contractors put in place.
This means that perfectly good, sound buildings are left empty and can fall prey to vandalism, which creates further delay in delivering the affordable homes targeted.
"This scheme allows key workers to benefit from low rent and a central location, and shows our commitment to finding new ways to deliver affordable housing.
It's certainly something which we will consider extending to other schemes".
John Mills, Director (UK) at Camelot Property Protection, added: "Our service meets a need that has existed for many years and which has affected many communities.
We are creating a win-win scenario for both organisations such as ASRA and our 'guardians' who would otherwise never be able to afford to live in London.".
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