i'm troubled about all this alamo / stock transfer /pfi, If my estate opts for anyone of them what IS the difference to me a resident ?or me a tenent? I'm sure there's a council worker out there who knows something! Like how long would the money last for each option? What do the council WANT Tto happen?
What is an RSL? Are Sheffield Homes an RSL? If not what are they? Theres lots of question marks here will anybody answer?

A series of good questions deserves an honest reply Haggis.

I'm not a council worker or a council tenant myself but I'll help as best I can - and it isn't an easy subject!

Sheffield Homes are an ALMO (Arms Length Management Organisation).

RSL's are registered social landlords - better known as housing associations.

ALMOS are still owned by the council.

Housing Associations are independent not for profit organisations - although a lot of money they get for building new houses is given to them by the government.

PFI - private finance initiative - means all the money for improving housing is borrowed from the banks etc. And the banks keep the profit.

The basics as far as I can see is that both ALMO's and housing associations can borrow money to improve council houses whereas the council can't. Profit made by ALMO or housing association has to be re-invested in housing.

They can do this because they can increase rents - but not by a huge amount - say from £40 to £50 - by that I mean a £10 increase - not counting inflation - over 10 years.

I'm sure other people could elaborate further.

My personal opinion - and again, I'm not a council tenant - is that if you want a good quality council house in the future you're better going with an ALMO or a housing association - but I wouldnt go for a PFI.

Wishing you all the best.

Longcol

So what about stock transfer then?

Stock transfer is when all the houses in your area are passed to not for profit organisations eg housing associations control

so whats the long term difference between alamo and stock transfer?

not sure.....anyone know

from what i have been told the almo depends on rents collected to maintain the properties under its control is this true ?

I think you'd get the same standard of service and quality of housing from either an ALMO or a housing association and pay about the same rent.

Only real difference as far as I can tell is ownership. ALMO is still owned by council - stock transfer means housing association own the property.

It might be easier to influence ALMO as if owned by council I'd assume councillors would still have a say - and I'd assume there'd be tenant reps on the "board" of the ALMO.

Some housing associations have very good reputations for listening to their tenants and involving them in decision making. If it was me and I was going for the housing association I'd want one that was locally based and committed to Sheffield rather than a national one that might just be in it for the money.

the almo project starts in april. I have been working on the pre almo project and it astonished me to find how much the four partners are makeing and how little they are paying the contractors to carry the works needed .
i am all for making a profit but i am worried that the quality will suffer and we will have more unhappy tenents for the star to interview.
In my view they should contract local firm to carrey out the work so the they can be of the decent homes + standerd