A “strong” letter has been sent to a housing association amid claims it has sold off a property rather than return it to the rental market.
Shropshire Lib Dem councillor Nigel Hartin said the house in Bucknell, between Ludlow and Knighton, has been sold by Connexus rather than giving someone the chance to rent it at an affordable rate.
He said he has been left concerned people are being let down by housing associations in the county.
He said: “I am really concerned about the housing association’s strategy in rural Shropshire.
“Over the last couple of years we have seen the housing association try to sell off houses in Lydham and St Catherine’s flats in Clun.
“They have also seriously let down local residents in regard to the four properties at Amblecote (between Betws y Crwyn and Anchor) where they have decided to auction the properties despite apparently agreeing with the parish to sell to local people.
“They are now proposing to sell a two-bed bungalow in Weston Road, Bucknell, rather than return it to the rental market.
“A number of local people have expressed interest in this small bungalow which recently became vacant due to the death of its elderly resident.
“However it now appears this will be another desperately-needed small rural property which will be removed from housing association stock.”
He added: “The issue here is twofold. First, we are desperately short of affordable housing for young families in rural areas.
“We need many more such properties not less. Second, we don’t see the housing association re-investing the money obtained by these sales in our communities.
“In Worthen, for example, eight properties were demolished in Old Mill Close and the land sold to developers.
“Despite promises, none of the profits have been re-invested in the community in the form of new homes.”
He added: “To add insult to injury the housing association is building new affordable homes in urban areas like Shrewsbury and Hereford whilst conducting a policy of denuding rural communities of their affordable homes.
“This can only end up forcing young families out of rural areas into the towns and to me it looks like a conscious decision to do this.”
He said the South Shropshire Local Joint Committee will write a “strong” letter voicing concerns.
Connexus has been approached for comment.
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