Tenants have kicked out Dudley council’s transfer plans in a shock “no” vote
The 32,000 tenants delivered a decisive rejection of the newly formed Quantum Housing Partnership, which leaves the council in serious financing difficulties.

On a 69.9 per cent turnout, 56 per cent opted to keep their homes with the council, while 44 per cent voted for transfer.

The council was reluctant to speculate on why its plans failed, but took the result as a vote of confidence in the housing service.

It is left with the headache of how to find the investment needed for the stock. The transfer would have brought in £340m for repairs and improvements in the first five years, and £1.3bn over 30 years.

The council estimates it will have only £37m a year to spend under current housing revenue account arrangements, and it believes that the stock is deteriorating faster than it can invest.

Chief housing officer John Stringer said Dudley had gone through a process of option appraisal four times. “We will have to work out how to attack the worst housing and reach the decent homes standard first,” he said. “But it is difficult because we have ruled out all the other options before.”

Best Value work will be speeded up and the department expects its first Audit Commission inspection next March.

The council is the first on this year’s programme to lose on a whole-stock transfer ballot. But several have called off plans.

Dudley council leader Tim Sunter said that the transfer work had not been wasted.

“The council has always believed that such an important decision should rest with tenants, and we respect the choice they have made,” he added.

Anti-transfer group Defend Council Housing welcomed the result, although it had kept a low profile during the Dudley ballot.

Spokesman Mark Weeks said: “This proves that no matter how much the privateers spend on public relations, residents who get together with trade unions can take them on and win.”