The stock transfer programme received a major boost this week after the largest transfer to date was given the go-ahead by tenants.
Sunderland city council will now transfer its entire stock of 38,000 units after 88 per cent of tenants voted in favour, out of a 73 per cent turnout. The homes will be transferred to Sunderland Housing Group, which is made up of parent firm Sunderland Housing Company and North Sunderland, Central Sunderland, South Sunderland, Washington and Houghton and Hetton housing companies.

The news comes just a fortnight after the London borough of Southwark, which has 50,000 units, shelved its plans to transfer before it had even balloted tenants because of local opposition (Housing Today, 23 November).

Hacas Chapman Hendy director Jeff Zitron told Housing Today: "The government’s consistent message is this: give tenants the facts and let them make their own informed choice. The Sunderland result illustrates once again the importance of that principle."

Sunderland council has the second largest number of homes on the 2000/2001 transfer programme after Birmingham city council’s 88,000 units. Both councils were given special permission by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to take up to two years to transfer their stock. A DETR source said that Sunderland was now expected to complete its transfer early next year. A ballot of Birmingham Council tenants is not due to start until September 2001.

Plans to transfer Blackburn with Darwen’s council homes will also go ahead after the move received a resounding yes vote. The council’s 10,000 homes will now transfer to Twin Valley Homes after 84.9 per cent of a 62.3 per cent turnout voted yes. The new housing company has been given a five year rent guarantee by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

This week’s two positive results follow the highest "no" vote against transfer in 12 years earlier this year, when 72.4 of tenants who voted in South Bedfordshire voted against (Housing Today, 17 August).

The highest "yes" vote on this year’s programme was received by East Northamptonshire council, when 92.2 per cent of its tenants voted in favour of transfer in the summer.

Source

Housing Today