|
Read the response to Austins Guardian article
Copyright 2005 Guardian Newspapers Limited
The Guardian (London)
March 16, 2005
SECTION: Guardian Leader Pages, Pg. 23
LENGTH: 343 words
HEADLINE: Myths about housing stock transfers
BYLINE: Jim Coulter LRM Rees
BODY:
Austin Mitchell’s article (Sold for the sake of it, March 15) is a singular example of the "glossy propaganda" he finds so distasteful. No matter how many times he says it, stock transfer is not privatisation. Housing associations are independent social businesses - not-for-profit and heavily regulated by the Housing Corporation.
Stock transfer in no way offers housing associations "easy profits". Mr Mitchell could not be more wrong. Stock transfer investments take years, often decades, to break even. More importantly, any surpluses are re-invested in homes, services and neighbourhoods, and are not distributed to shareholders, as he suggests.
Mr Mitchell opposes stock transfer on ideological grounds, as is his right. But he should come out and say so, instead of dismissing housing associations’ commitment to building thriving neighbourhoods as grubby profiteering.
Jim Coulter
Chief executive, National Housing Federation
* So Austin Mitchell tells us that nationalised or public sector housing (councils) is good but denationalised or private registered social housing (housing associations) is bad.
He argues that those in favour of stock retention compete on a not-so-level playing field and are subject to a dirty tricks campaign from those in favour of stock transfer. As a housing professional I would argue that the boot was on the other foot.
It is the "save council housing" lobby that promotes the myths as they are not governed by the same stringent regulations as councils, which are required to give tenants all the facts.
I accept there is a chronic lack of investment in social housing, which all of us working in the sector and our political masters must address as a priority. I suggest that the answer lies in the community housing mutual model promoted by the Welsh assembly, where ownership of the council stock is transferred, following a ballot, to the tenants, ensuring that the economic benefits of transfer remain under the control of the immediate community.
LRM Rees
Newport
________________________________________________________________________________
this article was published in the Guardian
|
