Tenants back conversion of ALMO into housing association

Gloucester City Homes – which has managed Gloucester City Council’s 4,800 homes since 2005 – will change status next spring following the ballot.

This means it would then be outside the local government finance system and able to borrow privately as a housing association to raise money to improve homes.

Tenants voted for the transfer by 89.1% to 10.9% on a 63.7% turnout.

They were told that if they backed the transfer it would unlock £292m of investment in improvements to their homes over the next 30 years, and that 100 new homes would be built within the next four years.

The council said it faced a £22m shortfall in resources to keep homes up to standard over the coming decade.

Cabinet member for housing, health and leisure Colin Organ, said: “The council and Gloucester City Homes have worked hard to give tenants the standard of homes they have a right to expect but, with the vote to transfer, the money will be available to keep their homes up to standard in the future and carry out repairs and improvements without delay.”

Mark Smulian