Press Release

New family accommodation helps reduce overcrowding

June 2009

Cllr Barbara Smith, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety joined Homes for Islington Chief Executive, Eamon McGoldrick, to celebrate new family homes in Islington and officially hand over the keys to another family moving into their new home.

The work has been carried out as part of HFI’s de-conversion programme which is changing houses that had been converted into flats back into family sized homes.

The work is an ongoing programme of de-conversions. Once a property is restored it is advertised and let to families in need of larger properties. This is also freeing up smaller flats helping other people on the housing waiting list.

Tenant Esther Brown was delighted with the move. She said “I’m ecstatic with my new home. The children love it too. It’s great having more space and we’re settling in well and looking forward to many happy years here as a family.”

Cllr Barbara Smith, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: "We're aiming to make the best use of our housing stock to help even more overcrowded families enjoy a better start in life.

"Schemes such as this de-conversion, along with our new build programme and our partnerships with housing associations are maximising the availability of social housing in Islington at a time when many private schemes have dried up.

"And it's lovely to see a house like this restored as a family home."

HFI Chief Executive, Eamon McGoldrick, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to help families like the Browns into new homes. One of the highest demands we have is for family accommodation. This scheme is helping families across the borough into bigger properties and easing overcrowding.

“This is one of a programme of de-conversions of houses from smaller flats into high quality family homes which will transform the living conditions of many tenants.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact James Asser in the HFI communications team on 020 7527 4379 or email james.asser@homesforislington.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Homes for Islington, one of the UK’s largest arms length management organisations (ALMO), which began operations in April 2004, is charged with managing council housing stock throughout the borough. It is owned by Islington Council and managed by a Board of Directors, made up of Islington tenants and leaseholders, council representatives and independent members.

2. Picture 1 shows new tenant Esther Brown with (from left) Patrick Odling-Smee, Service Director, Housing for Islington Council; Eamon McGoldrick Chief Executive of HFI and Cllr Barbara Smith, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety.

3. Picture 2 shows the family outside their new home.