TENANTS opposed to homes being handed to a housing association have won their battle to stay under the control of their local council.
Members of Richmondshire District Council voted not to continue with consultations over the transfer of almost 2,000 properties to a new landlord.
Independent consultants asked to research the idea of introducing a housing association encountered significant resistance among tenants.
It would also have cost the council another £300,000 to take the transfer on to the next phase, which would have concluded with an independent ballot among tenants.
The transfer deal would have been worth an estimated £12.6m to the council if tenants had agreed but the cost of the consultation would have been paid by the authority if a 'no' vote had been returned.
The decision to stop consultations must be ratified by a full meeting of Richmondshire District Council tomorrow night
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