THE transfer of a town's council houses to a new landlord has been delayed again.

Earlier this year, council tenants voted on a plan by Middlesbrough Council to transfer its 13,000 council houses to a new landlord.

Sixty per cent of Middlesbrough's council house tenants voted. Seventy-seven per cent of them backed the transfer to non-profit making landlord Erimus Housing.

The move was proposed by the council as the only way forward to bring its houses up to standard.

The council said it did not have the £148m needed to upgrade its houses during the next ten years, a bill that could increase to £481m within 30 years.

Plans for a tenants' vote had been postponed from last year after the scheme hit its first snag. Council chief executive Brian Dinsdale said there were many issues to be resolved before the council was satisfied it was making the right move.

This setback resulted in the council appealing to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's office after it emerged that every month of delay to the transfer would cost the council £30,000 in additional fees to consultants.

Executive member for housing Councillor Ron Lowes said the transfer had now been put back a month to Monday, November 1.

He said: "The transfer of 13,000 homes to a brand new organisation is a massive undertaking. It is our responsibility to ensure that everything goes smoothly, with minimum disruption and the maximum benefit to tenants.

"The October deadline was always ambitious and, having reviewed what needs to be done, we think this short extension to the timetable is sensible. We are making good progress in the transfer, and will keep staff and tenants informed of developments."

About 200 housing staff will transfer under their present terms and conditions to the new organisation.

Councillor Bob Brady, who is chairman of the Erimus Housing shadow board, said: "We want it to happen as soon as practicable, and this slight change in the timetable will ensure our planning and preparation allows us to maximise the benefits Erimus brings."