OWNERSHIP of affordable housing properties on the Maes Brenin estate, in Rhayader, has been taken over by the Newtown-based Mid Wales Housing Association.

The management transfer from Gwalia Housing, part of the Pobl group, comprises the 19 flats and 20 houses remaining from the 59 properties on the estate, with the other 20 having previously been sold.

“We pride ourselves on being a community based association that is small enough to be able to know most of our residents by name,” said Jean O’Neill, interim director of customer services at Mid Wales Housing at the handover last week.

“Staff at Mid Wales Housing have enjoyed meeting Maes Brenin residents and we hope it won’t be too long before we know the residents personally. We are looking forward to working further with the community to improve the quality of life for all concerned.”

Gwalia Housing said it is confident that Mid Wales Housing Association will offer an excellent service to residents in the future, by providing a more local housing management service, as Mid Wales Housing’s headquarters and principal maintenance contractor are based locally in Newtown.

While Mid Wales Housing previously had only three properties in Rhayader, it owns a further 127 within 10 miles of the town.

The association said it understands the needs of rural communities, having provided affordable housing throughout Mid Wales for over 40 years.