News
South welcomes vote from the North
01 January 2007
South Shropshire Housing Association (SSHA) tenants and staff have welcomed an overwhelming vote from North Shropshire District Council tenants which will see them become part of the same housing group.
The vote means that North Shropshire District Council’s housing assets and services will transfer a new not-for-profit landlord, Meres and Mosses Housing Association, which, like SSHA, will become a subsidiary of the Shropshire Housing Group.
The Shropshire Housing Group will provide central services to both Housing Associations, such as IT, development and human resources, with each Housing Association managing and owning its own housing stock.
SSHA has around 2,000 homes in management and Meres and Mosses is expected to have around 2,300 homes once the transfer takes place during the summer of 2007. North Shropshire District Council housing team will also transfer to Meres and Mosses.
SSHA chief executive Martin Holland said: “We look forward to working in partnership with Meres and Mosses. Sharing central services and expertise will allow both Housing Associations to develop more extensive and cost effective services for our tenants. At the same time each Association will retain its own identities and responsibilities
SSHA’s tenants group Tass had been actively involved in discussing the benefits of joining the Shropshire Housing Group with North Shropshire District Council tenants.
Tass chairman Roland Brown said: “Tass welcomes the news of the vote from North Shropshire tenants and looks forward to working with them to bring about the transfer of theirhomes. These are exciting and challenging times and we hope that our own tenants and staff will benefit from better and more efficient services as a result of the transfer.
More than 71 per cent of North Shropshire District Council tenants voted with 79.5 per cent of the votes in favour of the transfer.
Notes for editors.
- South Shropshire Housing Association is a voluntary organisation formed in the early 1990s to provide high quality, affordable social housing in the South Shropshire area. The Association develops around 50 new homes per year. It is now the leading landlord in South Shropshire and the Marches, with approximately 2000 rented homes in management.The Association runs a number of sheltered schemes for older people, a foyer for young people, housing support services for vulnerable adults in the South Shropshire District, a refuge for women fleeing domestic violence and a homelessness hostel. Homes are also available for purchase through Shared Ownership Schemes.
- The proposed Meres and Mosses Housing Association will, subject to a positive vote from tenants, take over 2,305 properties from North Shropshire District Council.
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