Thirty-eight English local authorities were given the go-ahead for their plans, which could see more than 94,000 homes transfer to new landlords over the next two years. Twenty-four councils were granted immediate places on the 2006 Housing Transfer Programme, and further discussions with the others about their schemes were continuing.
The 2006 Housing Transfer Programme involves 29 new transfer schemes to registered social landlords (RSLs). A further 20 schemes are being held open, subject to further discussions between DCLG, local authorities and the RSLs involved. These schemes are primarily where housing stock has a negative value and a funding gap would have to be filled to enable a transfer to take place.
Since 1997, there have been 173 transfers from 118 local authorities. These transfers covered over 765,000 dwellings, of which it is estimated 367,000 were non-decent.
The local authorities included on the 2006 Housing Transfer Programme are:
Places have been held open on the 2006 Housing Transfer Programme for the following authorities:
The first stock transfer took place in Chiltern Hundreds, in 1988. With the signing of final contracts due to be completed on 30 October 2006, the milestone of over 1 million homes transferred from local authorities to housing associations was due to be passed. The transfers involved housing stock in the local authority areas of Sefton, Pendle and Manchester.
Tenants on four Tower Hamlets Council estates voted against stock transfer. Of the 1,600 tenants voting on the Ocean Estate, 62.7% rejected transfer proposals. The 'no' vote was even higher on the Boundary Estate, with 87% against transfer and a healthy turnout of 74%. The other 'no' to transfer votes were recorded on the Cleveland Estate and Locksley Estate.
Communities Minister, Malcolm Chisholm, gave the proposed transfer of 7,900 dwellings from Inverclyde Council to River Clyde Homes approval in principle. The Minister's announcement begins statutory consultation with tenants and puts plans in place for a secret postal ballot on the proposals. At the same time, 98% of tenants voting in the Maukinhill area of Inverclyde (turnout of 75%) voted in favour of transferring their 230 homes to Cloch Housing Association.
Renfrewshire Council tenants voted narrowly against transferring the ownership of their homes to the not-for-profit social landlord, Renfrewshire Housing Association. Turnout was low, with under 8,500 votes cast (the housing stock is 14,300). The result found 50.2% voting against transfer and 49.8% in favour.
The result means the Council will have to consider alternative options to service its existing housing loan debts of approximately £154 million.
With a 68% turnout, over 67% of tenants of Stirling Council rejected transfer proposals. A 'yes' vote would have seen the 5,600 homes transfer to Housing Stirling and the Council's £18 million housing debt written off.
Swansea Council delayed its tenants' ballot on transfer proposals until 2007. The Council had been committed to a ballot by the end of 2006, and have agreed to extend guarantees on rent levels to compensate for the delay.