The new housing organisation will be monitored by Newport Council

In a secret ballot, 83% wanted new independent housing organisation Newport City Homes to take over the management of the properties.

Newport council welcomed the move, which it had encouraged to ensure homes could be improved by 2012.

Home repairs costing �233m will start in months.

The council said it has worked closely with tenants and leaseholders during the last 16 months to develop proposals that will ensure council properties can be improved up to the standard set by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Tenants can rest assured that the board is committed to delivering all the promises made to tenants during the consultation Chris England, chair of the board of Newport City Homes

Councillor Bob Bright, leader of the council, said: "The ballot result is a vote for better homes for existing tenants and future generations of tenants.

"Tenants have clearly recognised the very difficult financial position facing the council.

"While the council has always worked hard to provide good homes and services for its tenants, a lack of resources meant we simply could not afford to bring homes up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

"With this result, Newport City Homes will be able to deliver the repairs and improvements that are needed."

Chris England, chair of the board of Newport City Homes, said: "This is a great result for the future of housing across Newport.

"Tenants can rest assured that the board is committed to delivering all the promises made to tenants during the consultation."

Monitored

In the ballot, 63.3% of tenants voted, with 83.8% in favour and 16.2% against the transfer proposal.

On its website, the council said Newport City Homes is a not-for-profit Registered Social Landlord, established to manage the properties formerly owned by the council.

The new organisation will be entirely independent of the council but will have five council nominees on its Board.

It will also be monitored by the council to ensure it fulfils its promises.

In 2006, independent think-tank the Institute of Welsh Affairs suggested all council housing in Wales should be transferred into private hands to help pay for housing repairs.

It said the move would raise the estimated �3 billion needed for improvements over the next 30 years.