TENANTS have voted for a rent rise in return for £17 million pounds worth of much-needed repairs to their homes.

Thousands of houses on the Hillock Estate in Whitefield could be revamped as part of a deal being thrashed out by tenants and the housing association bidding to take control Manchester-owned properties.

This includes installing or upgrading central heating, double glazing and new kitchens, toilets, and bathrooms. In exchange, for the next 10 years rents will rise by £1-a-week plus inflation for the first five. After that rent rises will only be in line with inflation.

People have been promised a choice of carpets and kitchen units and sample materials are on display at the estate's housing Office in Oak Lane. It is also planned to open a show home in the next few weeks. The city council admitted in August that it does not have the funds for improvements and tenants will vote in October whether to sell-of the estate lock, stock and barrel to the private landlord. More than 100 people attended a meeting to decide if extra rent should be paid. The three-year improvement programme will start next spring if the transfer is approved.

Mr Eric Riley, chairman of the Hillock Estate Association of Tenants and Residents, described the proposal as a "good deal" and said: "If people are getting £200,000 of improvements for their money then it makes a £1-a-week rent rise a little insignificant.

"The projected rent will be less than with Manchester which does not have money for repairs. We are talking about peanuts as we are getting all that work. It is a terrific deal."

A transfer forum of residents is also looking at other conditions it would like to see implemented if the association takes over, such as succession rights and the right-to-buy.

Mr Riley added: "These are promises which will be fixed and there will be a legal agreement. People will get a copy of a consultation document and all the things in this document will be legally binding."

People are still being urged to get involved in transfer discussions and meetings are held most Thursday's at a local venue. For details contact Mr Riley on 766 8383.

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