Liverpool's Housing Action Trust has joined forces with the city council for a unique stock transfer. It is the first time a HAT has joined forces with a council to come up with a transfer offer.
The HAT has shortlisted five housing associations in competition to take over 860 homes in the Sefton Park area. About 390 belong to the council, the rest are owned by the HAT. The cost of buying and refurbishing them could be £40m, the HAT estimates.

Liverpool Housing Trust, housing associations Arena and Venture and joint bidders Cosmopolitan and CDS are in the running. Tenants are to help choose the winner and a ballot will be held next year.

The HAT took over 77 Liverpool council blocks in 1993. Its brief is to transform them through demolition and refurbishment, then secure a permanent landlord. It is already spending £30m – £72,500 per flat – in its six Sefton Park blocks. Some of the cost will be recouped in the sale to a housing association. The works will also see two blocks knocked down and the cleared land could be used to create new private housing.

One issue yet to be resolved is the HAT's promise to freeze rents from its inception. Tenants are currently paying just £32 a week but their rents will gradually rise in the first five years after transfer, eventually reaching the city's target rent.

n Liverpool council looks set to sell its management services to other town halls. A Liverpool spokesman said housing projects could be included when the council sets up a company, NewCo, to offer a range of services to other local authorities. The cabinet office is interested in other high-performing councils following suit.

Source

Housing Today