Durham County Council has been granted permission to proceed with its plans to transfer ownership of 19,000 homes to housing management organisations.
The Government has given its approval of the transfer, and a formal tenant consultation will now take place. The council is looking to transfer its council homes to Dale & Valley Homes, Durham City Homes and East Durham Homes via a new housing group.
Cllr Eddie Tomlinson, cabinet member for housing, said: ‘Government approval is a monumental step in the council’s proposition and goal to improve social housing overall for the benefit of the county.
‘Now that we have Government support, we can work with tenants and other key stakeholders across our communities to highlight what transfer would mean for them and how they can get involved in hearing about the council’s proposal, which will lead up to a tenants’ ballot.’
Tenants will be given a single ballot on the council’s proposal after the consultation period.
