WHITE Horse Housing Association is proposing to take over responsibility for 16 flats in Marlborough from Marlborough and District Housing Association (MDHA).
The flats were built by MDHA in 1969 at 10 The Green for people over 55 with links to the area who are able to live independently. The association had been formed that year by people from the town who were concerned about the lack of housing to rent in Marlborough and its surrounding villages for people of retirement age.
Chair David Ingram said the association, which is run by volunteers, is concerned about the extra workload caused by stricter housing reporting regulations being introduced by the government.
He said: “We absolutely support the stricter regulations and fuller reporting but this increased recording and reporting of compliance will result in substantially increased costs, which could only be covered by significant increases in rent and service charges.”
He said he and his board have been looking at alternative housing associations with the resources to absorb the extra work to take over the running of the flats and gardens.
Talks with White Horse have progressed to the point that it has now made a formal transfer proposal, which will be put to MDHA’s board. It may be discussed again by White Horse’s board and could go back before MDHA for a final decision at the end of November. If agreed, the transfer would take effect from January 1. The transfer will mean the closure of the association.
Tenants were told about the proposal and given a chance to ask MDHA’s board questions at a meeting in Marlborough Town Hall, which was also attended by White Horse Housing Association’s Chief Executive Steve Warran and Operations Director Belinda Eastland. They were assured the transfer would not affect rents or tenancies.
MDHA is holding further discussions with residents and has set up a system for all of their questions to be answered.
“The best interests of our residents remain our absolute priority,” said Mr Ingram. “While it is with some sadness that we relinquish our responsibilities, we do so in the confidence that this difficult decision is in the best interest of current and future residents of these properties.”
White Horse Housing Association was formed as Wiltshire Rural Housing Association in 1984 and changed its name in 2016. At present it has 430 properties in 55 villages across Wiltshire, Swindon and Somerset, including Pewsey, Mildenhall, Burbage and Rushall.
Its stated purpose is: “To be a trusted provider of excellent services and affordable, sustainable homes, working together with rural communities.”
Read more about MDHA here.
Pictured: There is a proposal to transfer responsibility for 16 flats at 10, The Green, Marlborough from Marlborough and District Housing Association to White Horse Housing Association