Council tenants back housing transfers

29 Nov 07
Tenants in two more Welsh local authorities have voted to transfer their homes to new housing associations.

30 November 2007

Tenants in two more Welsh local authorities have voted to transfer their homes to new housing associations.

Conwy and Newport are the latest councils to have their plans to raise money for meeting the Welsh Housing Quality Standard approved in ballots.

The Conwy result, announced on November 26, was decided by just 48 votes. A total of 1,436 tenants (50.8%) backed transferring the stock to the new association, Cartrefi Conwy, while 1,388 (49.2%) voted against.

The new landlord plans to raise £58m for improvements during the next five years through private borrowing, and is projected to spend £237m over 30 years.

Council leader Goronwy Edwards said: 'A lack of resources meant we simply could not afford to bring homes up to the standard.'

The Newport result was more clear-cut, with 84% of tenants voting for transfer. Council homes in Newport require £233m to bring them up to standard by 2012.

The Welsh government expects all councils without the necessary funds to use stock transfer to achieve the standard, which is tougher than the English version.

Tenants have backed transfers in four councils and rejected them in two.

PFnov2007

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