HYNDBURN Borough Council's housing stock is set to be transferred to a social landlord company -- if tenants give the plan the thumbs-up.

A team of consultants told the council's cabinet that a total transfer of thousands of council-owned homes to a social landlord would be the best option, if they were to be improved to a decent standard.

And the consultants, HACAS Chapman Hendy, said if the council were to keep the buildings, a total investment of £154 million over 30 years was needed to bring Hyndburn's housing stock up to a standard tenants will be satisfied with.

They said that a £45.2 million investment was needed by 2010 if the housing target was going to meet, and better, Government targets.

The consultants were given the task of looking at options ahead for the council to improve its housing stock.

These included retaining the stock under existing arrangements, stock retention under an arms-length arrangement, a Private Finance Initiative, or stock transfer to a registered social landlord.

They concluded the best way forward was to transfer all the council's stock to a registered social landlord.

They said a voluntary transfer could deliver all of the investment needed and enhance service delivery to tenants.

However, for the transfer to proceed there would need to be a formal ballot of tenants, with a majority returning a vote in favour of the proposal, they said.

A tenants' panel has already given its backing to the housing association plan. But, as reported in The Lancashire Evening Telegraph, union leaders in Hyndburn claim the plan for private company involvement is unpopular and have vowed to fight such a change.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe confirmed the tenants would decide the fate of the housing stock.

He said: "We have to have a clear policy on this and it is our policy that it's our tenants who decide.

"We don't intend to question the merits of each of the plans. We will not be passing comment as we don't want to influence the tenants.

"It's their homes and their decision."

In 2002 Blackburn with Darwen Council's housing stock was transferred to registered social landlord Twin Valley Homes.