Glasgow Housing Association issued its fourth 30-year business plan since coming into being in 2003, in which it confirmed its commitment to completing the second stage transfer of 50% of its homes by 2007/08.
The guarantee to meet the Association's original deadline to transfer its stock to local housing organisations comes despite not having a financial model for the process. The second stage transfer is to be based on seven pilots, of which none has yet a date for when its transfer is due to take place.
The business plan reveals a year-year programme, during which the Association will consider what kind of organisations are to be created after transfer. It also has to respond to expressions of interest in its housing stock from local housing organisations, which the business plan states might take up to one year to complete.
Edinburgh Council commissioned MORI to interview a sample of tenants to establish the reasons for the vote against transfer in a ballot last December. The unexpected "no" vote came despite pre-ballot tests of opinion indicating support for stock transfer.
The Council is now reassessing the potential of stock transfer. As well as reconsidering full stock transfer, it is discussing the potential of a series of partial transfers to local housing associations.
Broxbourne BC completed the transfer of its 3,500 homes to Broxbourne HA. The transfer was supported by 70% of tenants who took part in a ballot in March 2005. The new Association has borrowings of £68 million with Abbey to fund improvement programmes.