Stock transfer (housing)

Summary

Stock transfer is a process whereby the ownership of council housing is transferred to a housing association. The term was first used in the United Kingdom. Here 1.3 million dwellings were transferred between 1998 and 2008.[1]

Evolution of stock transfer from 1988 in the United Kingdom edit

Stock transfer has become an increasingly centralised process.[2] The term social housing was not originally widely used as Council housing outnumbered Housing association housing by about 6:1.[3]

1988–92 edit

There was no special legislation.[2] Chiltern District Council was the first Council to take up stock transfer.[4] 4,650 homes were transferred.[5]

1993–99 edit

An annual programme was introduced.[2]

From 2000 and the Decent Homes programme edit

Stock transfer was part of a centrally driven programme. In 2000 when the Decent Homes Programme was brought in by the Labour government the policy also made it possible for local councils to privatise their housing stock via stock transfer to registered social landlords, housing associations or private companies.[6]

In New Zealand edit

In 2013 in New Zealand the National government announced the Social Housing Reform Program.[7] One element of the reforms are the transference of state housing stock to the third sector. Criticisms include Salvation Army's Alan Johnson calling the stock transfers "privatisation by stealth".[8]

On 31 March 2016 the Tamaki Redevelopment Company became the first recipient of a stock transfer. They received 2,800 state houses in Glen Innes, East Auckland. Housing commentator Alan Johnson called the transfers "privatisation by stealth".[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Morris, Charlotte. "Transferring housing stock from council ownership to housing associations, a continuing success". Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Pawson, Hal. "Reviewing Stock Transfer" (PDF). University of Toronto. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  3. ^ Pawson, Hal; Mullins, David (2010). After Council Housing: Britain's New Social Landlords. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-1-4039-3514-4.
  4. ^ "Transfers – Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (LSVT)". The Hidden History of Tenants. Leeds Tenants Federation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  5. ^ Hetherington, Peter (2008-12-10). "Voluntary transfer for social housing celebrates 10 years". Guardian. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Stock Options". Decent Homes Standard. Archived from the original on 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  7. ^ "Social Housing - Ministry of Social Development". Archived from the original on 2017-01-28. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
  8. ^ Johnson, Alan. "The New Politics of Social Housing" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
  9. ^ Alan Johnson, The New Politics of Social Housing. March 2014. http://www.salvationarmy.org.nz/sites/default/files/uploads/20140723SPPUAlanJohnsonspeechMar14.pdf Archived 2016-04-04 at the Wayback Machine