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Housing Stock Transfer Campaign                 

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 News and Resources
UNISONScotland Housing Stock Transfer Briefing - October 2004
Oct 03: The Current Position in Moray
Nov 01: Moray Branch Wins Award-Housing Stock Option Appraisal process
Nov 01: Steps in the Right Direction - Council Housing Stock
Oct 01: Moray Unison Housing Stock Transfer Bulletin
Defend Council Housing - DCH Campaign Statement

Positively Public Briefing:  May 2003

Hands off our housing: revamped housing section on national site

Modernising Scotland's Social Housing Brief

Union gears up for massive housing lobby

Glasgow Campaign Against the Housing Stock Transfer

More on UNISON’s housing campaign Index

Campaigns eg
 
Communication

  Health & Safety
  Housing Stock
  Lifelong Learning
  Nursery Nurses
  PFI / PPP
  Recruiting Stewards
  Single Status

 

The Current Position

It's always been a proverb that you should learn from your mistakes, unfortunately the Government is not aware of this one and continue on its endless endeavours to be rid of affordable council housing for many people in the UK through either Large Scale Voluntary Transfer or Arms Length Companies. It seems unbelievable that despite the complaints from many supporters for keeping housing in control of local government and the debacle for those who are undertaking the program of transfer and those who have indeed transferred, the government endeavours through many different methods, to get its way.

What springs to mind and seems to be the opposite idealism are the latest ideas from the offices of John Prescott and David Blunkett, is that they want to give more power to local councils in England making them more accountable to their constituents in the areas, but still want one of the local authorities' main functions sold off.

In Scotland, we still have the government looking actively at Large Scale Voluntary Transfer this is despite the ridiculous outcome of the Glasgow transfer that still awaits the financial packages put in place to deliver the promises made. This mirrors the case in the south of the Scotland where the local authorities in and around the borders have failed to deliver promises made on property upgrades and timetables for modernisation.

In Moray we still have to be aware that a review of the housing stock will take place in 2005. It is UNISON's opinion that we will again see a serious effort by some to move the political debate to transfer. It seems that even though we have a high quality stock, low rent levels and some of the best statistics in Scotland some are still of the mind we should transfer, maybe the idea of over inflated executive wages is the appeal?

Staff in the housing department should be aware of the idealism of LSVT is to sell off a viable council commodity which will be vigorously opposed by Unison.

Dougie McPhee
October 2003

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What's it All About

UNISON is opposed to the wholesale selling off of large chunks of the country's council housing stock. This process is damaging to tenants, local authorities, services and trade union organisation. UNISON fully supports options that enable investment to take place without homes being sold.

Large Scale Voluntary Transfers are damaging to tenants, local authorities, services and trade union organisation. UNISON fully supports options that enable investment to take place without homes being sold.

The Issues

The selling off of large amounts of council housing stock adversely affects not just tenants but local authority workers too.

Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (LSVT)

LSVT occurs when a council sells more than 500 homes to a single body, usually a housing association or a private housing company. This often leads to higher rents and higher housing benefit bills as the new housing associations have to recoup their investment. Public investment would be cheaper and more efficient.

Workers' rights

Usually the local authority's housing staff will move to the new organisation but building workers and support staff may face redundancy. Depending on how much the council receives from the sale of the housing stock, there may be redundancies in the rest of the authority too.

The twin track approach

UNISON branches are adopting a twin track approach in their opposition to LSVTs, both campaigning against any proposed transfers and preparing a strong bargaining position if the transfers should go ahead.

Right To Buy

The RTB scheme should not be confused with LSVTs. Right To Buy gives an individual council tenant the opportunity to purchase the freehold or lease to their council home.

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