Highland Council may transfer 14,500 homes to a local body

Highland councillors moved towards a ballot of council tenants on a transfer of its stock of 14,500 properties to the Highland Housing Association.

Details of the proposal will shortly be sent to tenants inviting them to comment within 28 days.

The Scottish Executive will be asked for their approval of the scheme.

Tenants will be invited to vote on the transfer by secret postal ballot expected to start in late October with the result known around mid-November.

Councillors were told by officials that independent research indicated that in eight years time average council house rents in the Highlands would be almost �700 a year more if the local authority keeps its housing stock.