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GHA transfers first homes to local groups
Tuesday 31st March 2009Legal agreements were signed on Monday for the transfer of Glasgow Housing Association homes to the first four community organisations.
Ardenglen, Cassiltoun, Parkhead and Shettleston housing associations now own the first 1,675 homes to be transferred under the process known as ‘second stage transfer’. Tenants voted for the move at the end of last year.
GHA chair Sandra Forsythe said the signing meant the long-awaited second stage transfer process was ‘now a reality’. She added: ‘The experience gained in reaching today’s milestone transfers has created a working pattern which can now be replicated in the future to create a smooth process for the other 30 housing organisations who are still pursuing second stage transfer.’
But Glasgow West Housing Association, which was also due to take on 130 homes this week, said it was unwilling to proceed until a dispute was resolved with GHA over the valuation of the homes, which Glasgow West argues does not reflect the improvements needed.
In a statement, Glasgow West said: ‘Collectively these issues present significant risks and to proceed to transfer without a satisfactory resolution, on the basis of the current deal and without further due diligence, would not be in the best interests of our current tenants or future tenants.’
Tenants in the Glasgow area of Provenhall are now preparing to vote on whether its local housing association should take on 195 homes.
A further 30 local housing organisations managing nearly 19,000 GHA homes are still progressing towards possible transfer. Ballots are expected to take place in eight of those areas by the end of this year.
Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon said she looked forward to more second stage transfers taking place.