However, Derwent and Solway acting director David Cumberland points out that the policy also helps stabilise communities. It will mean that people will stay on the estates rather than move out of the area. We want to see a diversification of ownership. There is not the need for the same proportion of social housing as there has been in the past. The turnover rate of housing is seen by housing management as a key indication of the popularity of homes.
High turnover is also a key sign of an instability in communities.
His organisation is trying to reduce the stigma of renting from a housing association. We try to do as much as we can, but it is probably not enough to keep people in. Some of the punters of our estates can purchase their property for 15,000 - there is no rent that we can charge to compete with that.