10 March 2006
Plans by local authorities to meet the 2010 decent homes target are being frustrated by delays in setting up stock transfers and arm's-length management organisations.
Councils had expected to hear by this month whether they are likely to be included in the next round of large-scale voluntary transfers and Almos.
But the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not published preliminary details of this year's programmes — fuelling speculation that the list of successful authorities will not be announced until after May's local elections.
Although 90% of council homes should be up to standard by 2010, doubts remain over the remainder. Last year, a further 28 local authorities told the ODPM they hoped to transfer their homes to housing associations, while 12 wished to set up Almos.
Gwyneth Taylor, policy officer at the National Federation of Almos, said some councils were so irritated at the delay that they might set up 'shadow Almos'.
But they will meet the decent homes target only with Treasury support, which is conditional on them joining the programme and gaining two stars from Audit Commission inspectors.
'The 2010 deadline will have to be extended for some of those in the next round,' said Taylor. 'I think the ODPM has accepted that.'
Des Kelly, policy officer at the National Housing Federation, said some councils had begun to consult tenants over LSVTs, yet the ODPM had not published its annual prospectus inviting councils to make formal applications.
One reason for the delay is that many homes are in very poor condition and will qualify for 'gap funding' to help new landlords with repairs.
PFmar2006
