Council to take 42,000 home ALMO back in house

21 February 2012 By Rhiannon Bury, Inside Housing

Tenants of the largest arm’s-length management organisation have voted for the body to be scrapped and the running of their homes taken back in house.

Following a consultation and ballot, 88 per cent of the Sheffield Council tenants who took part voted in favour of the council managing their homes. Only 12 per cent voted to retain the ALMO, Sheffield Homes, which had managed the council’s 42,000 homes since 2004, and completed £700 million of decent homes work.

It has been awarded the maximum three-star rating from the Audit Commission three times.

The turnout was 55 per cent, with a total of 25,465 votes cast. Sheffield Council will now manage homes and estates from April 2014.

Harry Harpham, cabinet member for homes and regeneration at Sheffield Council, said:

‘The tenants of Sheffield have spoken loud and clearly. This ballot result is a strong message from tenants that they want management of their homes back with Sheffield Council. Of the tenants who did take part in the ballot, about nine out of ten would like to have their home managed directly by the council.

This is a big decision for the city and will determine how we shape council housing in the future. Our first priority now is to involve as many tenants as possible in the decision making around services. We will concentrate on how we can best deliver a first-class housing service for our tenants.’