Housing management set to return to Hackney Council
Following consultation with residents on a joint recommendation, Hackney Council’s Cabinet last night decided to return the management of its housing stock to the Council when its contract with Hackney Homes comes to an end on the 31st of March 2016.
With the Decent Homes programme coming to an end this year and the current housing management agreement expiring on 31 March 2016, the Council consulted residents on a joint proposal by Hackney Homes and Hackney Council to return housing management to the Council.
All 33,742 Hackney secure and introductory tenants and leaseholders were consulted over a three month period, by independent research agency Ipsos MORI. Of the 18% (6,158) who responded, 56% showed support for the proposal; 14% opposed; 15 % neither supported nor opposed; 12% answered ‘don’t know’ and 2% did not state a preference.
The Council and Hackney Homes have developed a strong partnership and in this spirit will now work together to ensure a smooth transition on 1 April 2016.
Hackney Council has come a long way over the last decade and Hackney Homes has been a major part of its success story. “I’d like to thank Hackney Homes’ Board, and staff for all of their hard work and look forward to welcoming them into the Council. Not only have they successfully delivered the Decent Homes programme, they have continued to build relationships with our residents, and that really came out in the consultation responses. That work will continue as we develop new governance arrangements that retain resident involvement while continuing to deliver more efficient and effective services.
Hackney Homes and Hackney Council agree that the time has come to return housing management to the Council. Hackney Homes has achieved what it was established to do and I’m proud of our achievements over the last nine years and would echo Cllr Glanville’s thanks to my colleagues on the Board and the staff of Hackney Homes for their hard work over the last 9 years.