by René Lavanchy
A west London council has decided to bring its housing stock back under direct council control by scrapping its arm’s length management organisation, in what is believed to be the first such reversal of council house privatisation in Britain.
The move was partly driven by new rules that mean councils can now apply for social housing grant to develop council housing on a more level playing field with ALMOs, raising the possibility that other local authorities could follow suit.
In a report to the Conservative-led Hillingdon council’s cabinet last month, housing officers said: “There is no longer a strategic imperative to continue with the ALMO… It would be simpler, more efficient and potentially far more effective for the landlord service to benefit from the council’s Improvement Programme.”

