House transfers cause concern
Thursday, 6th September 2001.
TENANTS being consulted over the possible transfer of council homes in Haverhill and the rest of St Edmundsbury to a new a new trust are not confident their new landlord will keep promises over planned improvements.
Consultation work carried out by Aldbourne Associates for St Edmundsbury Borough Council revealed tenants had many concerns about the transfer, although overall most favoured it.
Some tenants felt it would be “the council with another name” and, as the current housing staff could continue, there would be little difference in practice.
They were not confident that the proposed programme of improvements, some £50 million in the first five years, would be met.
At a full council meeting this week councillors were being asked to accept that tenants have been given sufficient information to make a decision about the transfer and move on to the formal ballot stage.
If a ballot goes ahead and is in favour of the transfer, it could be in place by the end of March next year.
A report to councillors said the Haverbury Housing Partnership would pay around
£37.271 million for the 6,082 homes, around £6,128 a unit. This was lower than the open market value because the homes have tenants and an obligation on the purchaser to invest in the stock.
Even if the council retained its housing stock, changes in government funding would a
mean a loss of revenue and rents would rise without any investment in the stock.
Recent votes on stock transfers by councils in the south of England have been largely in favour of them going ahead, with two against, but only by very small majorities.
Tenants will still have the right to object to the Secretary of State if councillors agree to go forward to the ballot stage. The decision of all tenants in a ballot would be final as to whether the transfer goes ahead or not.
Consultation work carried out by Aldbourne Associates for St Edmundsbury Borough Council revealed tenants had many concerns about the transfer, although overall most favoured it.
Some tenants felt it would be “the council with another name” and, as the current housing staff could continue, there would be little difference in practice.
They were not confident that the proposed programme of improvements, some £50 million in the first five years, would be met.
At a full council meeting this week councillors were being asked to accept that tenants have been given sufficient information to make a decision about the transfer and move on to the formal ballot stage.
If a ballot goes ahead and is in favour of the transfer, it could be in place by the end of March next year.
A report to councillors said the Haverbury Housing Partnership would pay around
£37.271 million for the 6,082 homes, around £6,128 a unit. This was lower than the open market value because the homes have tenants and an obligation on the purchaser to invest in the stock.
Even if the council retained its housing stock, changes in government funding would a
mean a loss of revenue and rents would rise without any investment in the stock.
Recent votes on stock transfers by councils in the south of England have been largely in favour of them going ahead, with two against, but only by very small majorities.
Tenants will still have the right to object to the Secretary of State if councillors agree to go forward to the ballot stage. The decision of all tenants in a ballot would be final as to whether the transfer goes ahead or not.
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