Hackney housing to return to council management

Hackney Council will regain charge of housing management when its contract ends with Hackney Homes next year.

The decision was made on Monday (January 26) to return management of the housing stock from April 2016, after a public consultation.

In light of the Decent Homes programme coming to an end this year, 33,742 tenants and leaseholders were consulted on the joint Hackney Homes and council proposal by an independent research agency.

The agency figures showed that of the 6,158 respondents more than half of them supported the plans, with 14 per cent in opposition and 12 per cent unsure.

Cllr Philip Glanville Cabinet member for housing, said: “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.”

Rupert Tyson, chair of Hackney Homes Board, added: “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.”

Hackney Homes was formed in 2006 to deliver improvements to the council’s housing stock through the Decent Homes programme. The original five year contract was extended to 2014 and then again to 2016.