News Item

01-09-2006

Formal Transfer Consultation Kicks Off Across Western Isles

Tenants to have say on plans that will see £100million invested in homes

Formal consultation has today (Monday August 22) kicked off across the Western Isles on plans to transfer all 1,800 Comhairle homes to Hebridean Housing Partnership, the new, not-for-profit housing association and unlock over £100million in investment.

Stage 1 consultation, as it's formally known, will see every tenant receive a copy of 'Bringing home the future', an easy to read booklet outlining the reasons behind the transfer proposals. The booklet also sets out the background to HHP and a comparison of the services, investment figures and rent levels that will be offered by HHP compared with those currently offered by the Comhairle.

Following the Stage 1 Notice all Comhairle households will also receive a short information video on transfer, presented by well known broadcaster Kenny MacIver. Comhairle staff will also be conducting door-to-door visits of all Comhairle housing in the coming weeks.

The Comhairle's Housing Chairman Councillor Norman MacLeod said, "The start of formal consultation on housing transfer plans is an important step towards community ownership. The various information tools, as well as the hard work of our staff, will convey the important messages about transfer to tenants.

"We have said from the start of this process that, having looked long and hard at all of the available options, we feel transfer to HHP is the only way forward to deliver new houses for Western Isles communities whilst providing improved services and homes for existing tenants. We look forward to sharing the plans in more detail over the coming weeks."

'Bringing home the future' sets out HHP's plans to bring all Comhairle homes up to the Hebridean Housing Quality Standard, introduce improved housing services and deliver a new build programme for the first time in over a decade. The programme of improvements and work will be carried out with rents guaranteed for the first five years (rent increases will be kept to no more than the rate of inflation plus 1%) thanks to the write-off of the Comhairle's £38million housing debt and an injection of cash from the Scottish Executive.

The Stage 1 consultation lasts for 28 days and invites tenants to comment on the transfer proposals, either through a reply paid card included with the Stage 1 Notice or by phoning the Comhairle or HHP. It will be followed by a second stage of formal consultation (Stage 2) after which an independent ballot of all tenants will take place. Only if the majority of tenants who vote say'yes' will transfer then take place.