'Iconic' social housing in Dennistoun keeps community ownership

A housing association responsible for more than 900 homes in the Dennistoun area is keeping its community-owned status, after a fight from campaigners.

In a vote yesterday evening, tenants of Reidvale Housing Association voted down a potential transfer to a larger, nationwide landlord which would've marked the end of its local control.

Its governing body said an uncertain financial future means the transfer would have benefitted residents in the long run, after the proposed new owners offered a rent freeze and investment in the area.

People for Places (PFP) had pledged £13.7 million to upgrade homes, including renovations of kitchens, bathrooms, windows, and doors. The freeze on rents was hoped to save tenants an average of £1,355 per year.

However, shareholders protested outside of the meeting in opposition to the transfer despite almost two thirds of tenants voting in favour of the change last month.

Last night, 66% of shareholders voted it down, with 70 votes for and 138 against.

However while campaigners toast success, bosses of the association have warned that staff and tenants will be "paying the price" due to "misinformation" about the group's finances.

Long history

Reidvale Housing Association was originally set up to protect homes in Dennistoun from demolition in 1975.

Glasgow City Council had planned to tear down tenements in the neighbourhood and move families to new homes in the growing schemes on the outskirts of the city.

But a group of residents led by John Butterly fought the proposals and almost 50 years later, the group is responsible for almost 900 homes in the area.

'We wanted to keep Reidvale in the hands of the community'

Residents had argued that the community, which owns valuable housing stock in a prime location, should not give up its assets to a nationwide group without fair compensation.

Geraldine Dempsey is a resident of Reidvale who had concerns about the future if PFP took over, and whether a rent freeze would be legally binding.

She said: "I’m a care worker. My husband is a care worker. Who can afford rent at a higher price around here? We can’t.

"We wanted to keep Reidvale in the hands of the community and we have done that.

"Reidvale has always been very involved in the community and the people who live here, and if we had given houses to PFP, I worry there wouldn't be any community involvement.

"Reidvale outperforms Places for People in every single aspect in terms of repairs et cetera, so why would we give it away?

"In the past, Reidvale has had schemes, such as an educational award scheme. Both my sons benefited - one went on to become a BAFTA-winning producer. He received money from the Reidvale to help with his education."

Reidvale response

A spokesperson for Reidvale Housing Association said: “Last month 62% of our tenants voted for a transfer to Places for People Scotland which would guarantee them a rent-freeze for five years and an accelerated property improvement programme.

“Unfortunately, some parties, largely external to the area, have chosen to spread misinformation about the reality of Reidvale’s financial viability despite not once meeting with us, or the tenant's own independent advisers, to discuss the current situation.

“We believe that this transfer is in the best interests of all our tenants and offers them a positive way forward in an incredibly difficult financial climate.

"Those behind this ill-informed campaign will have to answer to our tenants and staff who will be left paying the price if the transfer does not proceed.”

Political concerns

Labour MSP Paul Sweeney had been lobbying in the community to call for shareholder members to reject the proposal.

He said: "It is fantastic that the shareholders of Reidvale have voted against the takeover by Places For People, seen through the shabby offer that has been put on the table by them and voted to protect community control of this housing association.

"We can now move forward with a new management committee under residents control to build a new business plan centred on community ownership, building on the strong base of the housing association.

"It has no debt on its housing and low social rents, which ensures that we can revitalize that community, invest in the tenement housing stock and keep rents as low as possible.

"But also allows the community to be at the heart of everything that they do for years to come.

"I'll be working closely with the community and that new committee, that we hope to see in place shortly, to reinvigorate Reidvale Housing Association.

"Let this be a clear marker that community housing associations in Scotland are here to stay and they are at the heart of what we want to see in our country's future economic model."

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