§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish rules of conduct for stock transfer ballots that include rules to govern the issue of lists of tenants who have yet to vote. [24435]
§ Ms KeebleStock transfer ballots are carried out by independent organisations who have their own rules and procedures in place to ensure that the ballot is conducted properly. It would not therefore be appropriate for the Department to publish rules of conduct.
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the legal status of offer documents sent to council tenants prior to a ballot on the transfer of housing to a registered social landlord is; and to what extent the offer made is legally binding on the new landlord. [24434]
§ Ms KeebleThe offer document forms the first stage of the formal consultation requirements set out in section 106 of and Schedule 3A to the Housing Act 1985 (as inserted by section 6 of and Schedule 1 to the Housing and Planning Act 1986), which a local authority must follow prior to a housing stock transfer. The offer document should contain full details of the transfer proposals and the implications for tenants. Tenants have 28 days during which to comment. The local authority may then revise the proposals to reflect these comments. If, following a positive tenants' ballot, the transfer subsequently goes ahead, the promises made in the offer document are incorporated into the transfer agreement between the local authority and the new landlord which is a legally binding contract.