Glasgow Housing Association to ballot tenants over 'Second Stage' stock transfer

Thousands of social housing tenants in Glasgow could be asked if they want to transfer to another landlord - just five years after they opted out of council control.

Glasgow Housing Association could stage the Second Stage Transfer ballots in November following a landmark decision by GHA Board last week.

The Board is to ask the Scottish Housing Regulator to grant ‘in-principle’ consent for GHA to ballot tenants in five LHOs on whether they wish to see more than 2,000 homes transferred from GHA to other 'community-based'landlords.

If consent is granted by the Regulator, the tenant ballots will take place in November 2008 and the houses could transfer as early as March 2009.

GHA Board approved Business Plans from the five LHOs who wish to take ownership of a total of 2097 homes.

The five LHOs where tenants will be balloted are:

• Ardenglen Housing Association LHO – where GHA would transfer ownership of  284 properties to Ardenglen Housing Association
• Castle Stuart LHO - where GHA would transfer ownership of 529 properties to Cassiltoun Housing Association
• Crossview LHO - where GHA would transfer ownership of 270 properties (prior to planned demolitions) to Parkhead Housing Association
• Glasgow West Housing Association (Hyndland) LHO where GHA would transfer ownership of 127 properties to Glasgow West Housing Association, and
• Shettleston Housing Association LHO - where GHA would transfer ownership of 887 properties to Shettleston Housing Association

A further 31 LHOs who currently manage 20,985 houses on GHA’s behalf are still progressing through the various stages of the SST process.

GHA Tenant Chair, Sandra Forsythe, said: “This is a proud moment for GHA staff and the five LHOs who are now on the final leg of the SST journey.

"The Board looks forward to considering detailed Business Plans from more LHOs as the SST process unfolds.

“The road to SST has been long and, at times, difficult and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the hard work, effort, dedication and determination demonstrated by GHA staff in working with the LHOs to deliver the very real progress we have seen today.”

“Importantly, we are also working with the 27 LHOs who will remain with GHA to ensure that their tenant representatives have a say in shaping the future purpose and business strategy of GHA so that they can determine the way forward for the 46,000-plus tenants in the communities they represent.”

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed steps by the Glasgow Housing Association to take forward second stage transfer in the city.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I am pleased to hear that five ballots on second-stage transfer to local housing organisations will be held in November. This is real progress and at long last, tenants in Glasgow will be given the chance to have their say.”