Kate Murray
When arm’s-length management organisations first came on the scene, anti-transfer campaigners claimed they would prove to be a back door to stock transfer.
The door to the future
Now, with the news that Oldham’s successful ALMO is planning to convert into a housing association, some would say that the campaigners have been proved right. Yet you can’t really blame ALMOs for considering the stock transfer option. They’ve been delivering on decent homes - and winning plaudits from tenants for their performance. But, facing a significant funding shortfall, they fear they will no longer be able to offer their tenants the service they deserve. For many, stock transfer offers the best way of securing their future.
Given the history of ALMOs, the switch to housing association status may prove difficult to sell. But unless the government offers more support to councils and ALMOs which want to stay as they are, that’s a challenge more and more landlords will face.



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