Over one million local authority homes in England have now transferred to housing associations under a long-running regeneration initiative.
The millionth home milestone was reached as transfers in Pendle, Sefton and West Wythenshawe went through on Monday 30th October.
Stock transfer is the process where a local authority transfers ownership of its housing stock to a not-for-profit housing association who then undertakes major repairs and improvement programmes. The transfer can only take place if the majority of tenants voting in a ballot support the move.
The first stock transfer took place in Chiltern Hundreds in 1988 under Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government. Today, 18 years later, Stock Transfer remains a cornerstone of Labour’s housing policy as it passes the historic one million homes mark.
The reason for the initiative’s success is the massive improvements to people’s homes, neighbourhoods and quality of life as a result of stock transfer. Overall, £9bn has been invested in homes and improvements such as new kitchens, bathrooms, central heating, major landscaping works and security improvements for over two million people.
David Orr, chief executive, National Housing Federation, said:
“People want better homes and neighbourhoods and stock transfer is an engine for change, regeneration and improvement.
“Since 1988, over two million people have seen dramatic improvements in their homes, communities and quality of life as a result of the transfer of their home to a housing association. This is a massive ongoing success story which we should celebrate.
“Stock transfer is the most successful housing policy of the past two decades. Over 18 years, stock transfer has contributed more than any other single housing initiative to improving living standards in England.
“Let’s get one thing clear: stock transfer is not privatisation. Housing associations are not-for-profit organisations committed to working with local people to improve their homes and communities.
“Opponents of transfer often try to scare tenants with myths and propaganda, but the facts are that after transfer services improve and tenant satisfaction rises. There has never been a campaign to return housing stock to a local authority after transfer and that speaks for itself. “
Kath Niurnaitis, aged 66, of Somercotes, Derbyshire is a tenant and tenant board member of Amber Valley Housing. Speaking about her experiences of stock transfer, Kath said:
“Voting to transfer my home to Amber Valley Housing was one of the best things I ever did.
“They have kept their promises to the hilt, and the improvements to the properties started so quickly, we had hardly transferred when the work began.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
For media enquiries contact:
John Goulding, 020 7067 1029 / 07771 663093, johng@housing.org.uk
Jessica Bawden, 020 7067 1026, jessicab@housing.org.uk
Tenant spokespersons from across England are available upon request.
The National Housing Federation represents 1,400 independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England. Together, our members provide 2 million affordable homes for around 5 million people. www.housing.org.uk
iN business for neighbourhoods is a long-term project to improve the performance of housing associations and challenge negative perceptions of the sector and its customers. www.inbiz.org