PRESS RELEASE

Jackie Baillie backs housing transfer	25th October 2001
Scottish Homes tenants in Port Glasgow have voted resoundingly in favour of transferring ownership of their homes to community ownership, paving the way for improvements and investment in their houses. Welcoming the decision, Jackie Baillie, Minister for Social Justice, said: “I am delighted that tenants in Port Glasgow have voted overwhelmingly to transfer their homes to Port Glasgow Housing Association. This means that they will be able to maximise investment in their homes by levering in significant private investment which would not otherwise have been available. I hope that tenants across Scotland considering transferring to community ownership will look to the example of Port Glasgow to see what is achievable.” Results of a secret postal ballot of tenants, published this week, show that 84 per cent backed the move to Port Glasgow Housing Association. There was a turnout of 78 per cent. Port Glasgow Housing Association will take over ownership of the 320 properties in the next few months. They have promised tenants local offices, increased tenant participation, a programme of investments in the houses and guaranteed rents in the first five years. Tenants can also look forward to greater certainty about future rent levels and a greater say in the way their houses are managed. Welcoming the tenants’ decision, Scottish Homes Community Ownership Initiatives Manager, Margaret Moore said: “This result means a change for the better for tenants in Port Glasgow. We’re confident that Port Glasgow Housing Association can help make a contribution to the regeneration of the local area, involving the local community to a much greater extent and giving all our tenants a better home.” Chairman of the Port Glasgow Housing Association Steering Group, Jim Lennon added: “Everyone at Port Glasgow Housing Association is really pleased that we got such overwhelming support from the tenants. We’re looking forward to working with them to build a better future.” NOTES TO EDITORS 1. Scottish Homes is transferring all its remaining houses to other landlords because of the benefits this brings for local tenants, including access to new investment, greater certainty about future rent levels and the chance to become more involved. Over 47,000 houses have now transferred, with fewer than 5,000 remaining. 2. From November 1 most of the work of Scottish Homes will be taken over by a new executive agency, Communities Scotland. A Scottish Homes residuary body will retain a landlord and housing management function and will continue to administer the remaining houses until they have transferred into community ownership.
Claire Hider Tel: 0131 479 5172