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Pentland Housing Association seeking views on proposed transfer to Cairn ahead of ballot


By Alan Hendry

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Pentland Housing Association chairman Jim Hair says Cairn has a track record of investing in homes and modernising services.
Pentland Housing Association chairman Jim Hair says Cairn has a track record of investing in homes and modernising services.

Tenants of Pentland Housing Association's 500 homes in Caithness are to be formally consulted on a proposed transfer.

Householders are being assured that the switch to Cairn Housing Association will bring new investment and a locked-in affordable rent guarantee from a new combined Cairn and Pentland team in the county.

Detailed leaflets are being posted out and staff from Pentland and Cairn are aiming to visit every household to try to speak to residents and answer any questions. This consultation period could lead to a ballot of all Pentland tenants in the next few months asking them to approve the transfer.

The key benefits of the proposed partnership are:

  • Cairn will freeze rents in the first year of the transfer and provide an affordable rent guarantee for the following four years, with lower rent increases than proposed by a standalone Pentland.
  • Cairn will invest £6,300,000 in local homes and communities over the next five years, with hundreds of new kitchens and other home improvements guaranteed.
  • Local services from a new combined Cairn and Pentland team, with new options for getting in touch online. Existing Pentland staff will be protected and will transfer to Cairn.
  • Cairn will provide financial security and opportunities for new services to Pentland’s tenants by being part of the larger Cairn Housing Group.

Thurso-based Pentland says it wants to deliver the best homes and services it can to tenants and communities.

A "transfer of engagements" is the legal term for an agreement between two organisations, in this case Pentland and Cairn, which sees the homes, assets and staff of one organisation transferred to another following tenant approval at a secret ballot.

Pentland and Cairn say they plan to make faster progress on modernising and upgrading homes to make them warm, comfortable and as energy efficient as possible. They also want to carry out more environmental improvements and expand on the quality of services they offer to tenants and other customers.

Members of Pentland’s voluntary board of management carried out a detailed strategic review of their options, which involved listening to tenants, staff and board members. The review concluded that to meet their goals for investment, affordability and quality services they should seek to partner with another housing association.

Cairn was identified as a preferred partner in 2019 following an advertised procurement exercise and since then, other than a pause during the 2020 lockdown, staff and board members from both organisations have been developing these proposals.

If tenants vote for the transfer to go ahead, Pentland Housing Association would no longer exist, Cairn Housing Association would grow by almost 500 homes, and Pentland tenants would become tenants of Cairn. Tenants’ landlord would change, but their tenancy agreement, rights and responsibilities would remain exactly the same.

The partnership will also see Cairn invest £6.3m in Pentland’s homes and neighbourhoods, which is almost £2m more than can be offered by a standalone Pentland, offering guarantees of hundreds of new kitchens and other home improvements.

Pentland anticipates that to meet its costs as a standalone housing association it will propose significantly higher annual rent increases than can be guaranteed by Cairn, which will also freeze rents in the first year of the partnership. This means that for a Pentland tenant currently paying £400 a month in rent they will benefit from an immediate monthly saving of £14, and a total cumulative saving over five years of £1661.

Pentland Housing Association chairman Jim Hair said: “Pentland and Cairn have distinct histories and strengths, and both feel that this proposal offers a great opportunity for tenants. Cairn is an ambitious, forward-looking organisation that has a track record of investing in homes and modernising services.

"Cairn has a considerable number of homes in Caithness and the wider Highland region and they share our vision of excellent services to our communities. I would strongly urge our tenants to vote yes to the transfer.”

Corrine Mackay, Pentland Housing Association’s acting chief executive, said: "Cairn Housing Association is guaranteeing investment in our tenants’ homes, better value for money and the continuation of quality local services to our tenants and the wider community.

"The transfer proposals are an exciting opportunity for Pentland Housing Association and we have enjoyed working with Cairn, who are very positive about creating a sustainable and modern new housing service in Caithness and north Sutherland.”

Don Jamieson, chairman of Cairn Housing Association, said: “We are excited to have the opportunity to expand our services in Caithness and our team are dedicated to providing great homes and services to all tenants and residents. Cairn and Pentland share similar values and a commitment to offering the highest possible quality of services.

"We are looking forward to getting to know Pentland’s tenants, to provide great homes, great services, with great people.”

Cairn chief executive Jason MacGilp said: “Over the last few months it has been great to listen to tenants about their priorities for the future. I have met, via Zoom, the Pentland Tenants’ Panel a number of times already.

"We are really excited about the prospect of bringing our two fantastic organisations together, with guarantees for more and quicker investment in homes, a new combined team working from a local office and a locked-in affordable rent guarantee.”


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