Following a four-week ballot, council tenants in Gorton North, Gorton South, Longsight, Rusholme, Levenshulme and Ardwick have voted to have their homes transferred to Eastlands Homes.
The ballot had a strong turnout with 71% of tenants using their vote and 81% voting in favour of the transfer.
The transfer is planned to go ahead in October and a five-year programme of improvements will begin immediately. In total £110 million pounds will be invested in the first five years - £97million on home improvements and a further £13 million on the environment.
The improvements will include :
- New secure double glazed windows for every home that does not already benefit from double-glazing.
- A new high quality fitted kitchen, if their existing one is over five years old, which will be designed with the tenant to meet their particular needs, plus new vinyl flooring, partial wall tiling and redecoration.
- A new bathroom suite if the existing one is over five years old with an over bath shower, extractor fan wherever possible, new vinyl flooring, around bath tiling and redecoration.
- A hand basin to any downstairs toilet that does not already have one.
- New highly secure, high quality front and back doors where needed.
- Rewiring wherever needed, additional sockets, and installation of smoke alarms and front and back security lights.
- Upgrades to heating systems to improve efficiency.
- Better energy saving through loft and wall insulation, and new heating controls where required.
- Work to roofs and chimneys if needed to achieve the Decent Homes standard.
- Communal areas will benefit from improved security, accessibility and lighting.
Sheila Doran, Chief Executive of Eastlands Homes said: "We are delighted with the result and can't wait to get started on the home improvements. We've been working alongside our tenants and residents in Beswick, Clayton and Openshaw since 2003 and the improvement programme has made a real difference to their homes and the environment. We want to provide the same high standard of improvements to all of our new customers and we will be meeting with them in the coming weeks and months so that we can hit the ground running as soon as the transfer takes place."
Click here to find out about the consultation events that are taking place in your area.
