Takeover shortlist
Three groups in FORWDHA
Three Edinburgh housing organisations have been shortlisted as potential partners to take over Wishaw and District Housing Association.
Beleaguered WDHA were told in August to merge with another body after a report concluded remaining independent would be “unsustainable”.
Expressions of interest came from Cairn, Link and Trust which between them have around 12,500 tenants.
This followed a strategic review of the future options for the association, that resulted in the board deciding that it was in the best interests of the tenants and other service users for WDHA to merge through a “transfer of engagement” with another association.
This means that the other association chosen would take over WDHA.
Housing association chair Brenda Higgins said: “We are pleased that our invitation attracted such interest and that we have been able to shortlist such high quality potential partners.
“All of those shortlisted have the potential to offer real benefits to the association and our tenants.
“Tenants and staff will be involved in the selection process.
“This will i nclude arranging visits to assess how the associations deal with issues such as customer care, tenant engagement and staff relations.
“The feedback will be considered by the board, which will also review how each organisation is run, its finances, wider cultural fit and ability to address the priorities of tenants, staff and the wider community.”
Ms Higgins added the WDHA board is likely to make a decision on the preferred partner around Christmas time.
The report from the Scottish Housing Regulator found WDHA was “unable to maintain regulatory standards of governance and leadership and, on the basis of the evidence, is unlikely to be able to do so in the future”.
The recommendation followed two years of work with the Regulator after it used its statutory powers to appoint a manager and five members to the association’s board.
In coming to its conclusion, the Review looked at three options for the future of the association – staying independent, joining a group structure or merging with another housing association.
The Review concluded that a transfer of engagements would allow for improved services and enhanced investment in homes, whilst maintaining affordable rent levels.