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Scottish housing association tenants vote in favour of transfer to Link Group

Tenants of a small housing association in Scotland facing stock investment challenges have voted in favour of their homes being transferred to a larger landlord.

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Link Group, based in Edinburgh, is one of Scotland’s largest social landlords (picture: Getty)
Link Group, based in Edinburgh, is one of Scotland’s largest social landlords (picture: Getty)
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Tenants of a small housing association in Scotland facing stock investment challenges have voted in favour of their homes being transferred to a larger landlord #UKhousing

Weslo Housing Management will now go through the formal legal stages of a transfer to Link Group, which it aims to complete on 1 June.

It currently owns 2,345 homes, mostly in West Lothian and Falkirk.

A total of 1,794 Weslo tenants (63.4%) voted on the transfer proposals, with 96.7% voting in favour of the plans.

Link Group, one of Scotland’s largest social landlords, was selected by Weslo as its preferred transfer partner in August last year.

The decision to transfer the homes was taken last June after a strategic options appraisal found that Weslo’s properties would require major investment over the next 30 years.


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A customer satisfaction survey carried out before the review also found that the majority of tenants were unhappy with the condition of their homes.

Weslo found that it would be unable to carry out the improvements and keep rents low, leading it to decide that transferring its homes to a large and financially stable landlord was the best route.

Kate Dewar, chair of Weslo, said: “I am delighted to see this level of support for the proposals that we have made.

“My thanks go to our tenants for taking the time to listen to what we had to say, to read the proposals, and to vote so decisively in favour of the transfer to Link Group.

“The proposal that Link has made will ensure the long-term investment in the homes that the communities deserve and with a two-year rent freeze it also ensures that rents will remain affordable.

“This vote has been the result of many months of consultation, listening and responding to tenants, all through the months of the pandemic.

“I am also extremely grateful to the Weslo staff and my fellow board members for all the hard work they have put in to develop this proposal with Link as well as to reach our tenants, and to achieve this outcome, especially during the most challenging period of lockdown since January.”

Jon Turner, chief executive of Link Group, said: “We are all delighted there has been such positive support from Weslo tenants to join Link Group.

“From the outset of our involvement with Weslo it was clear the two organisations share a common culture focused on supporting tenants, their families, and the communities in which they live.

“We look forward to welcoming in our new colleagues and putting in place the significant investment programme that the homes need over the next few years.”

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