17 January 2012 | By Alex Wellman, Inside Housing

Tenants have backed a council’s proposal to ditch its arms-length management organisation and take control of its housing stock.

Redbridge Council is now working with Redbridge Homes, the ALMO, to ensure a smooth transfer of services for the 7,000 homes.

A survey was sent to all tenants and leaseholders in November and December 2011 and 63 per cent of the 17 per cent who responded supported the councils proposal to bring the service back in house.

Just 9 per cent opposed the plans, which the council said would result in £400,000 of annual savings.

The contract with Redbridge Homes runs out on 31 July this year and the council will control the stock from 1 August.

Robin Turbefield, Redbridge Council member for housing, said: ‘I am pleased that the majority of tenants and leaseholders who responded were in support of this proposal, it was important for us to get their views and I would like to reassure them we will make this transition as smooth as possible. 

‘I would like to reiterate that this is not a reflection on the services Redbridge Homes has provided over the last five years. However, we created the arms-length management organisation to help us unlock government funding.

‘Now this has been successfully achieved it’s important we find the best way of providing housing services as efficiently as possible. We believe bringing services back in house is the best way to do this.’