Mrs Oldham’s new home
3 January 2008
Two house moves for one family from Werneth were helped to go smoothly by support from the Housing Market Renewal neighbourhood team.
Mrs Eileen Oldham sold her two-bedroom terrace home on Lynn Street and found a three-bedroom property only three-quarters of a mile away on Chestnut Street, Chadderton. This followed another local move for her father from his house on Cambridge Street to a bungalow off Grange Avenue.
Describing her new home Eileen said, “I really like it. The layout is very similar to my old house, but with more of a garden at the front and the back.”
“I have sisters, nephews and nieces living nearby and the third bedroom helps when the grandchildren come to stay.”
Having decided to move, Eileen found a lot of help was available from staff at the Neighbourhood Office at Tamworth Street. “At first I was gutted, I had just bought things to do up the house, but I sent them back and looked for a new house.”
Her previous house will be demolished and the site redeveloped with new housing to provide a greater choice of accommodation for sale, rent and shared ownership for local people. “I decided to move now. If I waited, prices will have increased. So moving was the best idea for me.”
Eileen made use of a product called the Home Plus Plan through Oldham Council and West Pennine Housing Association. She received £60,000, the market value of her old home as assessed by a District Valuer as well as a further £6,000 to compensate for the disturbance plus her legal and removal fees were covered.
After paying off what remained of a mortgage, Eileen borrowed £35,000 available through the Home Plus Plan to purchase the Chestnut Street house. She doesn’t have to make any payments at all until the house is sold.
Mrs Oldham’s father moved earlier this year to a housing association bungalow at Woodfield Close. She added, “For my Dad, moving was a lot of upheaval, but the housing officers were really helpful. The move was handled sensitively and arranged to cater for his needs. He has moved into a bungalow with communal gardens. Where he is now, everything he has needed doing has been done promptly.”
Neighbourhood Programme Manager Mike Farnworth said, “My team has helped more than 200 people move house and it’s great to hear that Mrs Oldham and her father have settled into their new homes. We’re here to offer the same information and support to others, particularly those people living in the areas where compulsory purchase orders have been confirmed.”
Anyone wanting to know more about the Home Plus Plan can contact either of the HMR neighbourhood teams:
Werneth HMR Team – 0161 770 4246, 80 Tamworth Street The regular office opening hours are Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2.00 to 4.30pm.
Derker HMR Team – 0161 652 8873, Flint Street The regular office opening hours are: 9.30am – 12 noon and 2 – 4 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 2 -7pm on Tuesdays.