Breakaway from GHA

james73 · Breakaway from GHA

HUNDREDS of tenants have voted to break away from Glasgow Housing
Association and switch control of their homes to local landlords.

The GHA balloted householders in five areas of the city on whether they
wanted to switch ownership of 2100 properties to smaller tenant-led
organisations.

Residents in Parkhead, Castlemilk, Ardenglen, Glasgow West and Shettleston
were all given their say - and yesterday it was revealed all five areas
voted yes'.

The news sparked celebrations across the city amid delight that the transfer
of homes to community ownership - the process promised by GHA since
2003 and known as Second Stage Transfer - had finally begun.

The largest transfer will be in Shettleston where Shettleston Housing Association
will buy 887 homes from GHA.

Mary Thomas, chairwoman of SHA, said: "We are thrilled to have won the
ballot which has given us a huge vote of confidence in favour of the move.

"The GHA tenants in Shettleston are our friends and neighbours and we
are all part of the same community. We look forward to becoming their
landlord."

The ballot - which attracted turnouts of between 50% and 77% and a
resounding yes' vote of 95% in one area - comes after years of controversy
since GHA took over Glasgow's housing stock from the city council in 2003.

Initially it had been promised all GHA rented homes would transfer to
smaller organisations but complicated arguments about funding resulted
in delays and criticism. It now looks likely that a much smaller number of
tenants will make the switch.

Nevertheless the ballot of the first five areas is seen as significant progress
on tenants finally getting the chance to have their say on the future of
their homes.

The Scottish Government will now be asked to give its consent and the
homes could transfer as early as March next year.

___________________________________________

ARDENGLEN LHO
● 89.2% of tenants voted 'yes'
● Turnout was 59.7%
● 284 properties will transfer to Ardenglen Housing Association.

CASTLE STUART LHO
● 93.7.% of tenants voted 'yes'
● Turnout was 50.6%
● 529 properties will transfer to Cassiltoun Housing Association.

CROSSVIEW LHO
● 95.2% of tenants voted 'yes'
● Turnout was 61.8%
● 270 properties (prior to planned demolitions) will transfer to Parkhead Housing Association.

GLASGOW WEST (HYNDLAND) LHO
● 83.8% of tenants voted 'yes'
● Turnout was 76.9%
● 130 properties will transfer to Glasgow West Housing Association.

SHETTLESTON LHO
● 86.6% of tenants voted 'yes'
● Turnout was 55.2%
● 887 properties will transfer to Shettleston Housing Association.

James H