Thousands of tenants have supported a council's plans to sell its housing

stock.

A poll by Horsham

Council found that 63 per cent were in favour of a transfer of homes to private operators Saxon Weald Homes.

Three-quarters of the 4,800 tenants questioned responded to the poll, with 2,675 agreeing to the

change.

The council says the

transfer is the best way to generate funds for future developments and the only way to keep rents at

affordable levels.

If the council continued to maintain its housing stock, it would not be able to afford to deal with rising costs of maintenance without sharply increasing rents.

The new company will guarantee rents will stay

stable for five years.

The council is not allowed

by law to proceed with

any changes unless it has

the support of tenants.

The Electoral Reform

Society was commissioned to conduct the poll.

Maggi Downes, chairman of the council's housing options sub-committee, said: "The

ballot clearly shows the council has the support of a good

number of tenants. Throughout the whole consultation exercise it was apparent that the tenants were giving the whole issue a great deal of thought.

"On behalf of the council

I would like to thank them

for voting in such large

numbers. They have given their views and now the council

must meet to decide whether

to go ahead with the transfer plan.

"The transfer will give

a major injection of funding

for repairs, modernisations

and improvements, a five-

year rent guarantee for tenants and a programme for the

building of new homes to

rent."

The council meets on May 22 to discuss the proposed takeover. The issue will then be forwarded to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for final approval.

Saxon Weald Homes would then take over in December.

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