SECRET plans by one of the UK’s biggest housing associations to offload nearly 900 homes in south west Scotland appear to have been ditched after they leaked out in a bizarre manner last week.
It might not seem so surprising that they became public, given that Home Group sent out a flyer to a number of other housing associations inviting expressions of interest.
The suggestion in a glossy e-brochure – well, I’m sure it would have been glossy, if it hadn’t been virtual – was that buyers could take over the ownership and management of 859 properties in Dumfries, 578 “socially rented homes” and 281 owner-occupied properties, all currently managed by Home Group.
This is an unusual suggestion. Stock transfers of housing association properties are less common than they once were, but when they do take place the properties are usually empty. These homes, with sitting owners and tenants could only be sold on to another social landlord. And existing tenancy rights would have to be preserved.
But what really raised eyebrows among recipients was this cloak-and-dagger warning: “Neither tenants nor staff have been made aware of the intention to dispose of the properties… under no circumstances should tenants be approached”, the flyer insisted.
This is not the spirit of consultation with which Scottish housing associations normally approach their tenants. Neither is it what you would expect of Home UK, given that it has a prominent section headed “openness and transparency” on its website. (The leaflet was actually distributed by property consultants JLL, who claim to be “one of the world’s most ethical companies”).
One of those to express concern was David Bookbinder of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, who said it was astonishing a landlord would treat occupants this way, and that it justified the forum having pushed hard to retain a say for tenants in any transfer. “I am amazed they are trying to do this in secret,” he said. “If a landlord is prepared to be that dismissive of tenants and staff, it reinforces all the reasons we campaigned to protect ballots for tenants.”
But when the Herald made enquiries, First Home UK told us it was an error. “There are no plans to market this stock... a communication was sent out without due authorisation,” a spokeswoman said. “We apologise for any confusion”.
So whose mistake was the document saying a decision had already been taken to sell, inviting expressions of interest by the 30th March and urging secrecy? Had JLL got it wrong?
Home UK’s head of Asset Management Anthony Bell ruefully says no: “It’s not JLL to be fair. Someone jumped the gun,” he clarified.
And after testing the water it seems this plan is dead in it. Home Group had never meant this to reach the ears of the press, and poor Mr Bell is now concerned I’ll alarm their tenants. “This isn’t going to happen. It’s caused so much negative feedback, I think this is canned now. It’s off the cards.”
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