Sheffield Council ballots tenants on social homes plan

Council tenants in Sheffield are to vote on the future of social housing in the city.

The city council is proposing that Sheffield Homes, which currently manages 42,700 properties on behalf of the authority, is moved in-house.

The council said the proposal could save more than £1m a year by creating a stand-alone organisation.

Tenants are to receive a ballot paper through the post asking them to vote by the 9 February deadline.

A series of public meetings and drop-in sessions are also being held as part of the consultation.

'Still the same'

Harry Harpham, cabinet member for housing, regeneration and planning, said: "Whatever options are chosen, there is still the same amount of money to run the service.

"It's still the same housing service which will be delivered."

A final decision is expected to be made by Sheffield Council's Cabinet in March.

Sheffield Homes was created in 2004 by the council when local authorities across the country were requested to bring homes to a set standard.

The council is reviewing who manages the city's council homes as the Sheffield Homes contract expires in March 2014.