Neath Port Talbot Council has completed the purchase of 20 houses aimed at rehousing people living in hotels and bed-and-breakfasts, the authority says, as it seeks to end long stays for vulnerable residents in temporary accommodation such as the Ambassador Hotel in Neath.
Homes bought outright, scheme now delivered
The council approved the scheme in May 2025 and told councillors the final property was bought on 28 August. Since April the council says it has moved 27 people out of hotels and B&Bs into houses purchased outright under the programme.
- 20 houses purchased (scheme complete)
- 11 houses currently lived in
- 1 house ready for occupation
- 8 houses being refurbished
The council's report to councillors describes how the majority of the occupied properties are shared arrangements: ten of the 11 occupied houses are shared between people who would otherwise be in a hotel room, and one property is a settled home for a family.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| People rehoused since April | 27 |
| Residents who moved directly from the Ambassador Hotel | 13 |
| People who have moved on since rehousing | 8 (6 into permanent homes) |
| Residents still living in shared houses | 19 |
Residents report quiet, practical benefits
The report includes anonymised accounts from four residents describing changes since moving. One resident said the move meant they now had cooking facilities and no longer lived on instant meals:
“It feels like it has been a good placement and the other person I am sharing with is a similar age to me and we share similar interests. It is great to have cooking facilities, as when I was in the hotel I was surviving on pot noodles.”
Another resident admitted to initial reservations but said the new home was markedly calmer:
“I cannot believe how quiet it is, and I have been able to read numerous books since moving, which I was unable to do in the hotel... The other resident is very quiet, so I hardly notice him when he is here.”That resident added they had developed a friendship with a neighbour and the neighbour’s cat.
Further accounts note practical improvements such as being able to tend a garden and feeling the location is suitable for work.
Background and local context
The move follows long-standing concerns about the use of hotel accommodation for people experiencing homelessness in Neath. In April 2021, after a run of complaints about anti-social behaviour in Neath town centre, the council said residents of the Ambassador were not responsible for the problems and that it was “developing alternatives” to the hotel.
The current programme was designed to provide more sustainable and appropriate housing options compared with nightly-paid hotel rooms and to reduce pressure on temporary accommodation. The council reports that of the 27 people rehoused, 13 came straight from the Ambassador Hotel.
Of those rehoused, the report says eight people have since moved on from the properties the council bought, with six securing permanent accommodation. Nineteen people remain in the ten shared houses.
What this means for Neath residents
For Neath, the completion of the house purchases marks a tangible step towards providing settled homes for people who had been living in temporary, often crowded hotel rooms. The shared-house model aims to recreate a more stable domestic environment while keeping people in the local area.
- Short-term relief from reliance on hotel and B&B accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
- Potential longer-term benefits where residents move on to permanent housing.
- Local community impacts as former hotel residents settle into neighbourhoods — both positive (neighbour friendships, tidier gardens) and challenges that will need ongoing support.
The council's report sets out early outcomes but also highlights that several properties remain under refurbishment and that some residents will continue to need support to move into permanent homes. Councillors will consider the full report at a forthcoming meeting where the next steps for the scheme and future housing plans are expected to be discussed.
The programme is one strand of the authority’s broader approach to homelessness and temporary accommodation in Neath Port Talbot, and its completion will be watched closely by community groups and councillors as the council seeks to turn short-term placements into settled futures for vulnerable residents.
