HUNDREDS of tenants have voted to break away from Glasgow Housing Association and switch control of their homes to local landlords.

HUNDREDS of tenants have voted to break away from Glasgow Housing Association and switch control of their homes to local landlords.

The GHA balloted householders in five areas of the city on whether they wanted to switch ownership of 2100 properties to smaller tenant-led organisations.

Residents in Parkhead, Castlemilk, Ardenglen, Glasgow West and Shettleston were all given their say - and yesterday it was revealed all five areas voted yes'.

The news sparked celebrations across the city amid delight that the transfer of homes to community ownership - the process promised by GHA since 2003 and known as Second Stage Transfer - had finally begun.

The largest transfer will be in Shettleston where Shettleston Housing Association will buy 887 homes from GHA.

Mary Thomas, chairwoman of SHA, said: "We are thrilled to have won the ballot which has given us a huge vote of confidence in favour of the move.

"The GHA tenants in Shettleston are our friends and neighbours and we are all part of the same community. We look forward to becoming their landlord."

The ballot - which attracted turnouts of between 50% and 77% and a resounding yes' vote of 95% in one area - comes after years of controversy since GHA took over Glasgow's housing stock from the city council in 2003.

Initially it had been promised all GHA rented homes would transfer to smaller organisations but complicated arguments about funding resulted in delays and criticism. It now looks likely that a much smaller number of tenants will make the switch.

Nevertheless the ballot of the first five areas is seen as significant progress on tenants finally getting the chance to have their say on the future of their homes.

The Scottish Government will now be asked to give its consent and the homes could transfer as early as March next year.

Chris Cunningham, director of Shettleston Housing Association, said: "Winning a transfer ballot and finalising the transfer itself has been a strategic aim of the association ever since the original Glasgow Transfer was put forward as an idea almost a decade ago.

"We have worked hard together to reach this point in the process.

"We look forward to the coming weeks when the transfer itself will be finalised.

"We hope that our ballot result and the five other positive results that have been achieved today are the first of many across the city."

Glasgow Housing Association says it is also delighted progress has been made on SST and said it would work with the five organisations to help make sure the switch went well.

Sandra Forsythe, tenant chairwoman of Glasgow Housing Association, said: "We look forward to working with Ardenglen, Cassiltoun, Parkhead, Glasgow West and Shettleston Housing Associations to ensure the smooth transfer of these 2100 houses in the new year."

Cassiltoun Housing Association will buy and take charge of 529 GHA properties.

Anna Stuart, tenant chairwoman, said: "The tenant support for further community led and controlled housing is fantastic.

"We now have a firm mandate from tenants wanting to transfer from GHA to Cassiltoun Housing Association and I am looking forward to working with GHA to achieve the earliest possible transfer date in 2009".

The local housing associations insist community ownership will help provide better services and investment. All services - including administration - will transfer with the homes to the smaller organisations.

Maureen Cope, chairwoman of Ardenglen Housing Association, has lived in Castlemilk for more than 40 years and is convinced that having local control of decisions makes a difference.

She said the people who knew most about their housing needs were the people who lived there, adding: "Ardenglen Housing Association is truly owned by the community and this fantastic yes vote shows our friends and neighbours have listened to our proposals and made an informed decision to transfer."

Parkhead Housing Association won the support of tenants in the transfer of 68 homes. Director Jim Strang said: "We look forward to delivering high quality, decentralised services to these tenants."

Dave Sim, Glasgow West Housing Association management committee chairman, is also celebrating the association taking charge of 127 properties in Hyndland.

He said: "This is a fantastic result and the turnout gives Glasgow West a clear mandate."

Further SST ballots are anticipated in the future.