Cabinet Agrees To Proceed With Tenant Vote in Durham

Durham County Council’s Cabinet has given its approval to carry out a ballot of secure and introductory tenants on the future management and ownership of their home.Following extensive consultation, Cabinet took the decision to ask almost 22,000 secure and introductory tenants to vote on whether they would like the council to remain as their landlord or transfer ownership of their home to their current housing services provider. In the coming weeks tenants will be asked whether they agree with the council’s proposal to transfer the ownership of their home via the County Durham Housing Group Limited to Dale & Valley Homes (an ALMO) in the west of the county; Durham City Homes in the city centre and surrounding areas; and East Durham Homes (an ALMO) in the east, making each of these organisations local landlords. Read more on the Housingnet website.

Council to Bring ALMO Back In-House

Management of Havering Council’s housing stock has gone back in-house from October 1.  The Conservative-led London authority has scrapped its ALMO Homes in Havering. The council initially estimated the move would save up to £535,000 through the removal of duplication of functions, although it now puts the annual savings figure at £300,000. It also says the move will improve services as the council has greater direct control over housing management.  Read more on the Havering Borough website.

Council to Keep ALMO

Councillors have voted in favour of The Gateshead Housing Company continuing to manage council homes in the borough. The decision comes following a detailed assessment and extensive research into the potential for short and long-term financial savings.  The decision was made at a meeting of Gateshead Council on September 20.  Alongside the research into potential savings and improvements, an extensive consultation exercise with tenants and leaseholders has been carried out. Customers were asked for their views on whether they would prefer the management of their homes to be directly under Gateshead Council or to continue under The Gateshead Housing Company. The consultation showed that 71 per cent of respondents were in favour of continued management by The Gateshead Housing Company.  Read more on the Gateshead Council website.

Council Concerns over ALMO Delay In House Move

A council has delayed plans to bring its ALMO back in house after concerns were raised about its performance. Northumberland County Council is instead going to make changes to the board of 8,500 home ALMO Homes for Northumberland after considering a confidential report on the body. Northumberland agreed in principle to take its housing management work back into the council two months ago after a report found scrapping the ALMO would save the council money. A consultation with tenants on a move back to direct council management has now been delayed until after improvements to the ALMO have been made. Read more on Inside Housing.

Stunell Wants Tenants Involved In ALMO Decisions

Councils must consult tenants when reviewing housing management arrangements, the communities minister has said. Despite government reluctance to give councils instructions, Andrew Stunell has published updated guidance to local authorities considering bringing their ALMOs back in house. ALMOs were originally set up to access Decent Homes funding, but a number of the original management agreements are drawing to a close. So far, eight ALMOs have been brought back in house, with several more expected to finalise decisions shortly. Download a copy of the guidance from the National Federation of ALMOs website.

ALMO Shifts Management of Homes to Private Firm

Westminster City Council's ALMO has announced plans to shift management duties of nearly half of the council's homes to a private company. CityWest Homes - which manages 22,000 properties on behalf of the council - says it will still retain "overall responsibility" for all homes, but Pinnacle PSG, a private housing management company, will manage 10,000 of them, as part of moves to cut costs. Housing management services across Westminster have been structured into four areas: north, south, west and central. Pinnacle PSG, who has worked with the council and CityWest Homes for 16 years, will now provide the housing management, cleaning and grounds maintenance services for the north and west, while CityWest Homes will provide housing management services to the south and central areas. Read more on the CityWest website.