The Advertising Standards Authority upheld two complaints against Clapham Park Homes (CPH), which took over housing stock from Lambeth Council. It decided that posters displayed by CPH in February 2005 were misleading, in that they implied that stock transfer was a certainty - even though the tenant ballot did not complete until the following month. The transfer took place in June 2006. A representative of Defend Council Housing has called for a new ballot.
Fenland Council will transfer its 3,900 homes to Roddons Housing Association if there is support from tenants in a ballot at the end of this year. The Association will be part of the Circle Anglia Group.
Peak Valley Housing Association took over 1,700 homes on the Hattersley & Mottram Estate from Manchester Council. The estate is on land in the area of Tameside Council and both authorities have been engaged in overcoming the £20 million gap needed to improve the properties. This has led to a five year delay in the transfer, which was first agreed in 1999.
Torridge Council decided on a shortlist of three associations to take over its 1,700 homes - Sanctuary Housing Association, South Somerset Homes and Westcountry Housing Association. Any transfer will first need a 'Yes' vote in a tenant ballot.
The Government rejected the bid by Liverpool Council for a massive £135 million of available gap funding. Had it been successful, the Council would have accounted for some three quarters of the available £180 million budget set to fund negative value stock transfers. A smaller allocation may be agreed but the business plan for the transfer will need to be re-considered. The Council is hoping to transfer its remaining 18,000 dwellings to the tenant-led Liverpool Mutual Homes.
Renfrewshire tenants voted to decide whether the Council should transfer its housing stock to a housing association. Tenants were able to vote by post, telephone or on the Internet in a bid to ensure as many people as possible took part in the process. The 21-day ballot was run independently by Electoral Reform Services (ERS).
Stock transfer to Renfrewshire Housing Association would pave the way to an unprecedented £1 billion package of home improvements over 30 years and faster repairs for Renfrewshire tenants. The Council's £154 million housing debt currently costs tenants 36p per pound in rent. If the transfer goes ahead, £269 million of public funding will remove the Council's housing debt and provide grant assistance for major improvements and early action funding.
If tenants vote yes, transfer would see an early start next year to a £370 million investment by RHA over 10 years on home improvements and repairs, including 5,700 modern kitchens, 3,700 central heating boilers and 2,800 modern bathrooms in the first four years alone.
In recently conducted independent research, 86% of the 1500 tenants questioned said they intended to vote, with over 67% saying they intended to definitely or probably vote yes.
Plans to transfer around 15,000 homes in Highland to community ownership, with a £450 million programme of investment, took a major step forward. Following assessment of the proposals, the transfer from Highland Council to Highland Housing Association was given approval in principle by Communities Minister, Malcolm Chisholm.
The approval follows an appraisal by Communities Scotland and the Council of the business merits of the proposals from the Association to manage and invest in the housing stock. The proposals include a 30-year business plan for the housing.
The Minister's announcement begins statutory consultation with tenants and puts plans in place for a postal ballot on the proposals. A successful ballot will see the cancelling of The Highland Council's housing debt of around £160 million and make funding available to support the £450 million package of investment in existing homes.
Tenants in the Western Isles will now have more investment and control over their homes with the transfer of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar housing stock to the Hebridean Housing Partnership. The transfer follows a successful community ownership ballot late last year.
The move means that the Comhairle's housing debt of £38 million has been written-off by the Treasury and £12.5 million for new affordable housing has been made available. This will provide 275 new homes across the area.
The City and County of Swansea decided to delay their stock transfer with no specific timetable agreed for when it will go ahead.
Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Torfaen County Borough Council have ballots planned to take place in the next few months.
Torfaen County Borough Council is using the Community Mutual Model as the basis for its stock transfer proposals.
Conwy County Borough Council, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and Newport City Council have also resolved to ballot their tenants on transfer.