Largest council plans transfer of all its stock

England's largest social landlord is considering a single transfer of all its 93,000 homes in a move that would change the face of social housing.

Birmingham city chiefs believe the move may be the only way to bring in £1.3 billion to tackle disrepair.

On its own Birmingham's scheme would far exceed the whole of last year's record breaking transfer programme which saw 64,930 homes switch to 15 new landlords.

It is understood Birmingham has been studying the proposals of Glasgow city council, which is exploring a large scale transfer of its entire stock.

Neighbouring Coventry is to ballot tenants on the transfer of 26,000 of its homes later this year.

Birmingham's proposals were made at a meeting two weeks ago between housing chair Dennis Minnis, director of housing Graham Farrant and union representatives.

UCATT Birmingham convenor Peter Hurley said: "They sounded us out about the idea. I suggested instead that the stock be transferred to a quasi-housing association under local authority control but they said the government wouldn't like it.

"Unions are concerned about the interests and rights of their members but it would be better to transfer to one landlord rather than several."

Unison representatives who also attended, also favour transfer to a single new landlord.

One proposal being examined is the establishment of management boards, including housing managers, but with tenants in the majority.

City chiefs are believed to have given themselves a deadline of the end of the year to decide whether to press on with the plan.

The policy review is acknowledged as part of a new initiative to bring further regeneration to Birmingham.

Minnis said: "Given the need for investment in the council's housing stock we are looking at all the avialable options for repairing and improving tenants' homes."

We are setting up consultation mechanisms to include trade unions, tenants and councillors to consider each option."

Chartered Institute of Housing director of policy John Perry said: "It is too early to say that this is the end of council housing.

He added: "If Birmingham were to transfer that would be very significant. At the moment none of the big cities have looked seriously at whole stock transfer and obviously there is a long way to go."

Conservative housing spokesman Nigel Waterson said: "Even before this news the transfer programme is at record levels, clearly the government sees no future in council housing and has no policy to improve it."

A DETR spokeswoman reiterated that the current size limit on transfers was 12,000 homes: "There have been a couple of exceptions to that, but they have set up a separate group structure to manage them. We can't comment on their application until it comes in."