Affordable rental scheme was a lifeline, says mother
A MOTHER-OF-THREE has described being handed “the ultimate lifeline” after a new scheme allowed her to stay living in her home town despite spiralling rental rates.
Rachel Torres, 51, who has rented a small three-bedroomed property for her three sons and herself in Skipton since 2014, was nearly forced out by the rising rental market.
After her two eldest children moved out, the local care home worker was left in a desperate situation to try to make ends meet.
“The rent just kept going up and up and up after my two older boys moved out there was only my income coming in,” she said.
“I found that difficult. My sons used to give me a bit of board but once that went it was even harder.”
Ms Torres said it was vital to continue renting in Skipton due to family commitments and schooling for her 11-year-old son.
“I was born and bred here. I’ve got family, school, work and friends here. It’s where my roots are and I didn’t want to have to move away.
Ms Torres told The Yorkshire Post that she was close to being squeezed out of the rental market
and nearly had to move back in with her parents who live in the area.
“I did think I would have to move in with family,” she said “I thought if it gets to the worst I would have to move back with my parents.”
She was given a “miracle” in the form of a two-bed affordable rental through Incommunities, the largest social landlord in the
Bradford district who own and manage further homes in West, North and South Yorkshire.
The organisation acquired 17 homes for rent and five for shared ownership in a ‘Section 106 Agreement’ with New Skipton homes, part of a private development by Miller Homes.
“It was the ultimate lifeline,” she said. “I had been asking for a miracle and it happened. I couldn’t believe it.”
The rented homes are being let for affordable rent to locals and as part of this agreement rents are charged in line with the Local Housing Allowance, used to calculate the maximum amount people renting from a private landlord can claim in housing benefit.
Ms Torres added that more affordable rentals must be provided in Skipton or many locals would be forced to move from the market town.
“I’ve been one of the lucky ones,” she said. “But I know a lot of friends who struggle with high rent and don’t know what they are going to do.
“There should be more affordable rentals because how else will people stay here?
“People who rent in Skipton want to stay here and for real locals this is where our roots are. We don’t want to move away.”
It’s where my roots are and I didn’t want to have to move away.
Rachel Torres describes her home town of Skipton