Tenants in Glasgow have celebrated two decades since a huge housing stock transfer took place.

On March 7, 2003, more than 80,000 council homes were officially signed over to Glasgow Housing Association (GHA).

This came after 58% of tenants who had their say voted in favour of the move.

Then-UK Chancellor Gordon Brown had offered to cancel Glasgow’s crippling housing debt of more than £900 million if tenants voted for transfer.

READ MORE: Major social landlord in Glasgow reveals rent rise after tenants vote

Glasgow Times:

Since 2003, GHA, and its successor Wheatley Homes Glasgow, has spent more than £1.5 billion improving homes across the city.

Tenants and board members joined Susan Aitken, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, for an event at Wheatley House in Glasgow yesterday to celebrate the landmark.

Bernadette Hewitt, tenant chair of Wheatley Homes Glasgow, said: “I’m so proud to see the difference stock transfer has made to our great city.

“The impact of our investment in high-quality, warm, secure and affordable homes is something I see every time I step out of my front door.

“I know that feeling of pride is felt in communities right across Glasgow, from Easterhouse in the east and Drumchapel in the west to Castlemilk in the south. 

“The significance of stock transfer, and the opportunity it brought to regenerate homes and communities, the positive difference it has made to so many people’s lives, should rightly be celebrated.”

READ MORE: Plans for Dargavel school to move forward if councillors back plan

Shona Robison, cabinet secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, said: “I congratulate Wheatley Homes Glasgow on the considerable progress made with the housing stock in Glasgow over the last 20 years. 

"We are proud to have supported investment that has resulted in improvements to existing homes, the construction of thousands of new high-quality affordable homes and benefitted communities all over Glasgow.

“The Scottish Government recognise there is still more to do and we are committed to the continued delivery of affordable housing across Scotland to achieve our ambitious target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70% will be available for social rent.”