PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Housing Stock Transfer Proposal by Broadlands District Council (29 November 1989)

That this House condemns the actions of Broadlands District Council in subjecting its tenants to high-pressure sales techniques, misleading information and the threat of large rent increases with a view to securing their support for the proposed transfer of its tenanted housing stock to another landlord; notes that this is the second time this year that this has occurred, following the decision of the Secretary of State for the Environment not to approve an earlier proposal from Broadlands Council without a further consultation; particularly regrets that even on this second attempt, the council has not ensured a fair and even-handed consultation, has not followed the guidelines recommended by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service, and has not provided resources for Broadlands tenants to obtain independent advice on the proposal; notes that the National Consumer Council has written to Broadlands Council to highlight its fears that pledges made to tenants may not be enforceable in law; further notes that Broadlands Council is threatening its tenants with a rent increase greater than suggested by the Government's draft rent guidelines; and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for the Environment to repudiate the council's actions in this matter, and to make it clear that he will not give approval to a proposal to transfer the tenanted housing stock in Broadlands to another landlord unless the proposal has the wholehearted support of tenants following a fair and even-handed consultation process.

Sponsored by:
Lord Soley (Labour)