SOUTH LAKES HOUSING CONSULTATION UNDERWAY
SOUTH LAKES HOUSING CONSULTATION UNDERWAY
Posted: May 26, 2011
A public consultation’s started in South Lakeland, to ask council house tenants if they want their homes to be put into private hands – in return for a multi-million pound investment.
SLDC is consulting on whether to hand ownership of their properties to South Lakes Housing – the group that manages the council house services.
Council bosses say a full transfer will mean extra government cash will be freed up to allow SLH to carry out much needed home-improvements.
Tenants will decide if transfer goes ahead in a ballot due to take place later this year.
They have just received the first in a series of informative newsletters from the council, explaining what transfer would mean for them, their homes and the housing service. Over the coming months they will receive a variety of information to help them make an informed choice in the vote.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Development, said: “Over coming months, we will be giving tenants all the facts about the transfer proposal so they can make an informed choice in the ballot.
We believe transfer is the best way forward for their homes and housing service – but it will be tenants who decide the future.
If transfer goes ahead, the new-style South Lakes Housing would be free from the financial controls that the Council faces, so it would have access to the funds needed to give all tenants the kind of modern homes and estates they have a right to expect and have been telling us they want to see.
Tenants can rest assured that if transfer goes ahead, their rents would remain affordable and their rights and entitlements would be protected.
I would urge all tenants to read the information sent to them by the council, so they can make an informed choice when they come to vote.”
A special freephone has been set up for tenants to ask questions about the transfer proposal – the number is 0800 014 7518. An Independent Tenants’ Advisor, Open Communities, is also available to give tenants free impartial advice on 0800 073 1051.
