ALMOs: Could they deliver for the SHQS?
John Perry (Policy Advisor, CIH)
Hugh Broadbent (Chief Executive, First Choice Homes Oldham)
Successive votes against stock transfer have left many authorities confronting the harsh reality of failing to deliver the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) by 2015 or increasing rents ahead of inflation. Faced with these unpopular choices many commentators are calling on the Scottish Executive to come up with an alternative to stock transfer.
John Perry asked the question; could Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) be the vehicle to deliver the SHQS.
He began by explaining that 56 ALMOs cover half of the local authority housing stock in England. The local authority has the advantage of retaining ownership of the properties while improving tenant participation at board level and allowing more flexibility over borrowing. This can lead to lower rent increases and improved housing conditions. In short ALMOs could, in tandem with other policies, deliver the SHQS.
He then cautioned that Scotland could not simply import the ALMO model from England as the organisations would have to reflect the housing landscape in Scotland and the views of tenants would have to be central to any policy. He was also critical of the delays in funding decisions that paralysed a number of English ALMOs.
Hugh Broadbent then illuminated the sold out session with his direct experience as Chief Executive of First Choice Home an ALMO in Oldham.
He said that the approach had delivered increased accountability to tenants as well as improved housing as a direct result of the "relaxed" borrowing regulations that ALMOs enjoy in comparison to local authorities.
The speakers concluded that time is of the essence if ALMOs are to play are part in delivering decent Scottish homes. Procrastination by policy makers at this stage would effectively make the decision that there is no place for ALMOs in Scotland.