More than 1,200 tenants will be given the opportunity to vote in September on plans to transfer their GHA homes to community ownership.

GHA Board has approved business plans from two community-based housing associations who want to take ownership of a total of 1246 homes across three areas under the process known as Second Stage Transfer (SST).

The Scottish Housing Regulator has given approval, in principle, for GHA tenants in the three Local Housing Organisations (LHOs) to be balloted on the plans. The latest ballots will see:

• 534 households in Cardonald asked to vote on plans to transfer to Southside Housing Association

• 587 households in Govanhill asked to vote on plans to transfer to Govanhill Housing Association

• 125 households in Merrylee asked to vote on plans to transfer to Govanhill Housing Association

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An initial consultation period in each area will begin on Monday, 9 August, giving tenants the chance to consider the detailed proposals. Ballot papers will then be issued in September, with tenants given three weeks to respond. It is expected that if a majority of tenants voting in each area are in favour of the plans, the homes will transfer by the end of the year.

GHA Tenant Chair Sandra Forsythe said: "We are committed to delivering Second Stage Transfer where it is what tenants want and I’m delighted more tenants will be given a say soon on the future of their homes."

Janice McEwan, Tenant Chairperson of Govanhill Housing Association, commented: "We believe SST will provide real benefits and we are delighted to have the opportunity to talk with local people to ask them what services they require and would like us to deliver."

Betty Macneill, Chairperson, of Southside Housing Association, added: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to put our proposals for community ownership to tenants in Cardonald and are confident we can deliver real long-term benefits. We look forward to formally engaging with residents in the coming weeks and winning support for Second Stage Transfer."

The three LHOs which will go to ballot next month are among 29 local communities in a timetable for SST which could see up to 16,500 homes transfer in 2010 and 2011. So far, 13 Second Stage Transfers – involving 4060 houses – have been completed since March, 2009.

(GK/BMcC)