Speaking at a tenants and residents meeting in Birstall, Robert Scott, neighbourhood operations manager for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH), said that some three-storey flats in the village may have their age restrictions amended.

At Birstall Central TRA he said the age restrictions had become confusing over the last few years because of difficulties letting the flats to people over 60.

Mr Scott said: “We have all sorts of age restrictions now, and need to come up with a more consistent policy. Of the demand for housing in Kirklees, 75 per cent is from people under 45.”

At the meeting in Temperance Hall, Coun Liz Smaje (Con, Birstall) said the council administration had asked for the system to be looked at because there were young people living in blocks with older people.

She said: “Quite often there are clashes of lifestyles.”

Mr Scott said there would now be just two age restrictions, over 60 and under 60, which would apply to new tenants only. He said if a restriction was to change, residents would not be expected to move out.

He said the two-storey Carr Street flats were generally ok, but KNH might be reviewing the age restrictions in the three-storey flats.

Mr Scott said everyone in Birstall would be consulted about the process by December. He said it wouldn’t be an easy process.