THE first part of the formal process of transferring Teesdale's council housing stock is about to start.

Next Thursday, district councillors are expected to approve a Formal Offer Document, which will be sent to all tenants, detailing the proposals for the housing stock transfer.

The document is the first part of a formal consultation process and residents will have 28 days to comment.

The council will then consider the comments and revise its proposals before deciding whether to proceed with a ballot of tenants.

If a majority of tenants are opposed to the transfer, the housing stock will remain with Teesdale District Council. If the transfer goes ahead, a new housing association - Teesdale Housing Association - will be set up to work in partnership with Endeavour Housing Association in a new group structure called North Star Housing Group.

The council has about 900 homes, but does not have the financial resources to bring its housing stock to national Homes Standards.

A housing association would be able to access funds from channels unavailable to the council.

Ruth Renton, a member of the Teesdale Tenants Forum, said: "We're very positive about the transfer, but of course it will all come down to the Teesdale tenants.

"This is vital for tenants and when they receive the offer document and see all the information in it, we're hoping they will see how much better off they will be."

The district council's director of community services, Mark Ladyman, said: "It's the policy to push for a positive ballot."

If the Offer Document is approved, it will be distributed to tenants after the General Election.

The ballot of tenants would then be expected to take place in June.

If this is successful, the transfer is expected to be completed on March 31 next year.