Tenants to vote on homes transfer

TOWN Hall chiefs have agreed unanimously to transfer Warrington’s
8,800 council homes to a registered social landlord.
But the borough council’s executive board has agreed that instead of transferring the homes to an existing social landlord, the existing management organisation, Golden Gates Housing,
should be converted.
This would mean the properties would continued to be managed by the existing team which has won high praise for its operations over the last few years.
Council leader Ian Marks (pictured) told the executive the decision was one of the most important the council had made in recent years.
But the transfer will depend on a ballot of tenants.
If they voted against the move, the authority would have to think again.
A report to the board by officers left councillors little choice but to agree to transfer the properties to a reconstituted Golden Gates Housing
This options best meets the wishes of the housing options panel, which consists of tenants, borough council members and employees of Golden Gates Housing and which has been studying the various options.
A stock condition survey has shown that for Warrington’s council houses to meet the Decent Homes Plus standard an average of £30,493 per dwelling – at today’s prices – would have to be spent over the next 30 years.
To meet the higher Modern standard, providing double glazing, modernised kitchens and bathrooms, etc, the cost would rise to £38,475 per dwelling.
Both figures are exclusive of fees, management administration costs and VAT.
The independent Housing Quality Network – comprising around 7,000 social landlords – says retaining Golden Gates Housing as an Arms Length Housing Management Organisation (ALMO) would provide no opportunity for money to meet even the basic Decent Homes Plus standard, nor meet Housing Revenue Account deficits.
A private finance initiative would not bring in the money and worsen Housing Revenue Account deficits – leaving a stock transfer as the only option capable of balancing the books.