Reduction of 31 ALMOs in Five Years

Nine arm’s-length management organisations (ALMOs) have been scrapped, converted to housing associations or earmarked for closure in the last few months. Waltham Forest is the latest ALMO to look at bringing services back in-house. This follows two other London councils, Hackney and Lambeth, which have also recently announced plans to scrap their ALMOs. The closures will bring the net reduction of ALMOs since 2010 to 31, leaving the National Federation of ALMOs with 39 members, down from 70 at the ALMO programme’s height in 2010. Read more on Inside Housing.

Housing Management Set To Return to Council

Following consultation with residents on a joint recommendation, Hackney Council’s Cabinet has decided to return the management of its housing stock to the Council when its contract with Hackney Homes comes to an end on the 31st of March 2016. The Council recently consulted residents on a joint proposal by Hackney Homes and Hackney Council to return housing management to the Council. All of Hackney secure and introductory tenants and leaseholders were consulted over a three month period, by independent research agency Ipsos MORI. Of the 18% who responded, 56% showed support for the proposal. Read more on the Hackney Council website.

Tenants Back Plans To Dissolve ALMO

Social housing tenants have backed Hackney Council's plans to dissolve its ALMO, Hackney Homes, and bring the management of its housing stock back in-house.  The three month consultation, which closed on 31 October, asked Hackney Homes’ introductory and secure tenants and leaseholders to have their say on the joint proposal, which would see management returned to the council in April 2016.Independent research agency Ipsos MORI has reported a response rate of nearly 20% (6,158), of which 56% showed support for the proposal, 14% opposed, 15% neither supported nor opposed; 12% answered ‘don’t know’ and 2% did not state a preference.  Read more on 24dash.

Evictions Soar By 60% in Wake of Coalition's Welfare Cuts

The Tory-led coalition's welfare reforms appear to have led to a 60% increase in evictions due to rent arrears in the London Borough of Hackney. Between April 2014, when the government's benefit cap and controversial bedroom tax were introduced, and April 2014, 98 social housing tenants were evicted in the borough, compared to 61 the year before. The data was made public after the Green Party made a freedom of information request to Hackney Council, which gathered its figures from its ALMO, Hackney Homes. Hackney Homes evicted a total of 108 tenants over 2013/14, compared to 72 in 2012/13. Read more on 24dash.

Consultation Begins On ALMO's Future

Hackney Council has agreed to consult with tenants and leaseholders on a proposal to take back the management of its housing stock from its ALMO, Hackney Homes. The consultation, which started on August 7th, will give residents a chance to have their say on the proposal. Councillor Philip Glanville, cabinet member for housing, said: “With the contract between the two organisations coming to an end in April 2016 and the further savings needed, now is the right time to review this arrangement.” Read more on 24dash.

ALMO's Future Bleak As Council Meets To Discuss Dissolution

Hackney Council is considering dissolving its ALMO, Hackney Homes, and bringing its housing stock back under its own management. The council and the board of Hackney Homes have submitted a joint proposal to consult tenants and leaseholders on returning housing management to the local authority in April 2016. Cabinet will consider the proposals at a meeting next week, and, subject to agreement, the consultation will begin in August. Read more on the Hackney Council website.