Council to Consult on Ideas for Housing Future

At a special meeting on Wednesday, 26 November, North Norfolk District Council agreed to apply for the Government's 2004 Housing Transfer Programme.

Councillors heard that by making the application they were simply keeping their options open at this stage and that the other ways forward available to the Council needed to be explained to tenants.

Like many other councils, NNDC does not have the money it needs to bring its 4900 properties up to meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010. As a result, it has to look at other options for how this could be achieved.

Councillor Margaret Craske, NNDC's Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "We will apply to be on the transfer programme but people need to understand that any transfer would only go ahead if tenants support it. Over the coming months we will carry out a major consultation with our tenants and other stakeholders, going through the issues and taking on board peoples' views. Our plan is to then hold a vote later next year of all tenants as they are the people who are most affected. Only if they support a proposed change will it go ahead. However, we need to be realistic and recognise that something does need to be done to preserve affordable rented housing in this area into the future."

Housing transfer to a new or existing housing association would help raise the money needed, as housing associations have greater financial freedom than councils. Other options include the Private Finance Initiative, arm's length management companies and tenant management options, and the Council will be providing more information to tenants on these options so they have the full picture over the next few weeks.

To date some 789,000 tenants from 142 councils have had their homes transferred to housing associations under the housing transfer programme.

ENDS

Please see our Housing Options page for more information.