This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New housing heads for the Highlands
16/12/2004
A package worth more than £200 million to build around
1,000 new affordable homes in the Highlands was announced
today.
If Highland tenants vote to transfer their homes to a
not-for-profit landlord, the council's housing debt will be
written off, allowing rental income to be spent on
improving existing homes.
Welcoming Highland Council onto the Executive's
Community Ownership Programme, Communities Minister Malcolm
Chisholm said it would:
- Provide £50 million over five years to build around
1,000 new affordable homes
- Write off housing debt of £175 million, which is
currently being serviced by rents
- Transfer 15,000 council owned properties to a new
not-for-profit landlord
- Help improve and modernise existing homes to meet
the new quality standard
The Minister said:
"This is a time of great opportunity for housing in the
Highlands. Local people hold the key to unlocking a massive
investment programme and building much needed new
affordable housing, as well as improving existing
homes.
"Before tenants are balloted, I'm making money
immediately available for new homes. This is on top of
existing building programmes, and will make a huge
contribution to meeting the need for more housing in the
Highlands.
"Transfer to a new landlord will also significantly
improve existing housing and help keep rents at affordable
levels for years to come, as the money spent on servicing
housing debts can go directly to modernising and upgrading
properties.
"I also want tenants to be more involved with their
landlords, and have power over the day to day running of
their homes.
"Community ownership gives tenants more input, with
representation on the Board of the new landlord."
Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chair of Highland
Council's Housing and Social Work Committee, said:
"I am delighted that the Council has now joined the
Community Ownership Programme.
"I am convinced that housing stock transfer presents the
best long term option for the Council, for people in
housing need, for our communities the length and breadth of
the Highlands and most importantly for our existing
Highland tenants.
"We are now moving full steam ahead to develop proposals
to put to our tenants. We are committed to working with
them to make sure they get full and impartial advice and
that they have all the information they need to make an
informed choice when they are asked to vote in a
ballot.
"We understand that many tenants will have concerns
about the possibility of stock transfer.
"I can assure all tenants that if transfer proceeds
rents will be kept affordable, services will be maintained
or improved and tenants will keep their existing statutory
rights including the right to buy their existing
houses."
Highland Council announced its intention to transfer
15,000 council homes to a new not-for-profit social
landlord in October 2004.
Tenants in the Highlands are expected to be balloted
towards the end of 2006.
Other councils who have joined the Community Ownership
Programme are Stirling, Edinburgh, Argyll and Bute, Western
Isles, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
Glasgow, Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway
councils have already transferred their housing stock to
not-for-profit registered social landlords.
All council and housing association properties must meet
the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.