Housing centre opens with £103m pledge for tenants

The tenants' resource centre marks the start of Erimus Housing - Middlesbrough's new not-for-profit housing organisation.

It is taking over the management of 12,000 former council homes in the town and has pledged to invest £103m in improving housing and the environment in its first five years of operation.

By 2010, every home under its control will have double glazing, external lighting and smoke detectors.

Councillor Bob Brady, chairman of Erimus, said: "We are marking the start of a new era for social housing in Middlesbrough and are saying as clearly as possible that Erimus tenants are at the centre of our plans.

"We want them to shape this new organisation and the service we provide from day one."

The new resource centre has a meeting room and a computer suite and will be used as a base by the residents' panel.

Erimus will have four area forums which will each elect three people to the panel.

"The forums will have budgets of £25,000 a year to spend on improving their own estates and the environment.

The organisation also plans to spend £6.4m on improving lighting, landscaping and security on estates.

Edna Donnelly, vice-chairman of the organisation, said: "Earlier this year, the council asked tenants to decide on the future of their homes and neighbourhoods. They voted overwhelmingly to go for a new housing organisation, which would be able to provide levels of investment which the council would not be able to afford.

"People have been very patient, have high expectations and it's now up to us to deliver."

About 400 housing staff have transferred to Erimus from the council's housing department.

Bernard Williams, chief executive of Erimus Housing, said: "This is a new organisation but it is very fortunate to be able to rely on the commitment and experience of dedicated housing staff who know our tenants, the town and its neighbourhoods.

"They will be a major asset in our work to improve estates and regenerate communities."