48 - Reidvale and the role of tenants in stock transfers with Paul Sweeney MSP and Lesley Baird

The Scottish Housing News Podcast

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7M ago 30:24

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With Reidvale Housing Association currently considering its options after shareholders voted against a proposed transfer of engagements to Place for People Scotland, Kieran Findlay and Jimmy Black reflect on some of the issues that have been raised so far.

They spoke to Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, who was a prominent part of the campaign against the transfer and raised concerns about the process with the Scottish Parliament’s housing committee.

Paul shares those concerns, laments the loss of community-controlled housing associations more widely and sets out measures that he believes could protect them in the future.

Another issue raised by the shareholders’ vote is that the majority of Reidvale tenants who took part in the ballot will not now see the transfer they voted for.

This is a concern shared by tenant participation and engagement specialist Lesley Baird, a former chief executive of TPAS Scotland who is concerned about a loss of voice for tenants.

Lesley also talks through the process of providing tenant advice during stock transfers and stresses the importance of having independent advisors, both to tenants and members.

Jimmy Black has written a blog to accompany the episode here: https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/blacks-blog-issues-from-the-reidvale-transfer-saga