Home Housing Group has been chosen as preferred partner to take over Copeland council's 4100 homes
Independent tenants' adviser PS Consultants said the fact that Home's 拢27m bid for the Cumbrian council's stock was 拢5m more than that of any rival was an important factor in the choice.

The association said it will spend 拢1m on community projects and will create employment locally. These were also vital ingredients in the choice, PS Consultants said.

A panel of councillors, tenants and staff chose Home over a bid from Impact Housing Association. Three others had already been ruled out.

Home has been working in the Copeland region since the 1930s and already owns about 2000 homes in the area.

It says it will set up a local partnership board with its own business plan and constitution. It will not establish a separate subsidiary for the Copeland stock.

A tenants' ballot is planned to take place in the spring.

Tenant Rachel Douglas, chair of the housing management forum, said: "We will be working with Home and the council to ensure tenants get the service they have a right to expect. It will be up to tenants to decide if the transfer goes ahead."

Source

Housing Today