TWO-THIRDS thirds of tenants who expressed a preference are in favour of housing transfer, according to a Stroud District Council report released this week.

Council staff have so far visited more than 3,000 of the district's 4,500 tenants, excluding those in sheltered schemes, about the proposal to sell-off the council's 5,400 homes to a housing association.

A report on the ongoing consultation, presented to the council last Thursday, concluded: "Tenants were not asked whether they were in favour, however 52 percent did state their preference and of these just over 2 to 1 were in favour of transfer."

Some councillors, however, were concerned that tenants' positions for or against the transfer had been recorded at all.

Cllr Linda Townley (Ind) asked cabinet housing member Cllr John Jeffreys (Con): "How was the preference recorded and why was it recorded, because you said the doorstep approach would not be about recording preferences?"

Cllr Jeffreys replied: "Absolutely right but we always respond to what our tenants tell us. The reason it's recorded is so we can inform you of what their views are on the proposal we have sent them."

Tenants will be balloted on the future of their homes before the end of the year.

"Tenants, whichever way they vote, are voting for change," said Cllr Jeffreys. "If they vote in favour of transfer, they are voting for a landlord of the future and all the investment.

"If they vote against transfer, they are voting for a situation in which the council will have to take very serious decisions to cut back services to save the money required, which is £2.5 million a year."

Meanwhile Stroud District Council has confirmed that at the last count it had spent £205,000 on transfer action out of a total budget for the process of £500,000.

Around £20,000 has gone on a video fronted by housewives' favourite Dr Mark Porter, entitled Your Home, Your Future, Your Choice.