COUNCIL tenants have voted to hand over their homes to a new landlord after a controversial ballot.

Campaigners who fought the transfer have condemned the outcome as a hollow victory for Neath Port Talbot Council.

More than 9,300 houses and flats will no longer be the council's responsibility but will be run by not-for-profit landlord NPT Homes, which is already up and running in shadow form.

It's all to do with the Assembly's Welsh Housing Quality Standard. Neath Port Talbot argued it would need to spend £152 million bringing its homes up to scratch, when it only had £40 million.

Now the authority says tenants can look forward to a programme of repairs and improvements worth £152 million in the first six years and £694 million over 30 years.

Out of the 6,366 (61.6 per cent) of tenants who voted, 3,600 (56.6 per cent) supported the transfer and 2,758 (43.4 per cent) were against it. The total number of votes cast included eight spoilt ballots.

Council leader Ali Thomas said tenants had recognised the very difficult financial position facing the authority.

"While the council has always worked hard to provide good homes and services for its tenants, a lack of resources meant we simply could not afford to bring homes up to the WHQS," he said.

"NPT Homes will be able to deliver the repairs and improvements needed and we are confident they will deliver all the promises to tenants."

The Defend Council Housing campaign has fought the hand-over, with some Neath Port Talbot councillors also opposing it.

One of them, Dyffryn representative Martyn Peters, told the Post: "I've worked it out there's only about 1,000 votes in it. If you can call that a victory for the council then it's a hollow victory.

"A huge amount of money has been spent and all they've had is a 12 per cent majority."

Councillor Peters said it had been an unfair contest from the start, as the No campaigners had asked for the addresses of tenants so they could discuss the proposals with them — only to be refused.

Fellow anti-transfer councillor Keith Davies of Coedffranc said: "The council had something like £5 million to spend on their campaign while the No campaign had about £500 to spend.

"The decision is disappointing but some you win, some you lose. People have had their say and we will do the best we can for the democratic result."

A timetable for the transfer will now be drawn up.

NPT Homes' board chairman Phylip Richards described it as a great result.

"Tenants can rest assured the board is committed to delivering all the promises made to tenants during the consultation.

"We will be working hard to develop a detailed improvement programme over the coming months so we can deliver the full benefits of transfer to tenants from day one."

"I would like to thank tenants who have put their confidence in us. We are committed to delivering all the promises to our tenants and involving them in the investment and service improvements that transfer will bring."

paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk

Related articles:

Frustration at failure to address simplified guide to tenant plan