History of the Association

The Association was formed in 1977. During that time we have come a long way from our first office on the ground floor of 21 Leyden St which was a room and kitchen with an outside toilet

INTRODUCTION

When the association started out in 1977 it operated in the Eastpark area of Maryhill, in Glasgow and was known as Eastpark Housing Association. A year later, on 4th December 1978, the first contract at 15 Leyden Street involving eight flats went on site. It is interesting to note that it was completed on 12th April 1979 at a contract value of £67,000. Nowadays tenement rehabilitation is not as cheap or as quick.

Since that time the Association has moved into other areas, Garrioch, Ruchill, Burgh Hall and Village areas and so its name changed to the Maryhill Housing Association.

MAIN PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT

The association has been involved in four main phases of development:

• The rehabilitation of tenement flats on or close to Maryhill Road.
• New build developments in gap sites.
• The stock transfer of a local authority estate, linked to a phased programme of decanting, demolition and rebuild.
• Declared the preferred Local Housing Organisation by Glasgow Housing Association to manage its local stock (approximately 2,400 units).

REHABILITATION

The main activity of the Association was the rehabilitation of sub-tolerable four-storey tenement flats within housing action areas for improvement. Originally these were flats owned by individuals or property companies and subsequently acquired by the Association for the express purpose of improving them at a rent that local people could afford. Many of these properties lacked baths, wash hand basins, a hot water supply and in some cases had outside WC's. They had defective wiring and plumbing, rising damp and rot causing structural distress. In order to eradicate these conditions the residents were decanted locally into other Association property for the duration of the works.

On completion they returned to improved flats which were decorated, had new bathrooms, windows and floors, fitted kitchens, gas fires, and in special circumstances, double glazed windows and central heating. The common close and stairwell were tiled and painted and entry phone systems installed for security. The Association has improved over 600 flats in this way, and we have also co-ordinated improvements on 83 owner occupied flats and 55 commercial properties. The Association has subsequently funded from its own resources central heating installation, improved sound insulation and window replacements.

NEW BUILD

In 1989 the association completed its first new build of 56 units at Stratford Street, which was the result of an international architectural competition under the heading "A Tenement for the 21st Century". This development won several awards. As the invitation form to architects stated "The aim was to stimulate a serious re-examination of the issues and desirable qualities of this historic building form in the light of contemporary circumstances." This was followed by a much smaller development at Fingal Street which involved the conversion of former police housing to which an extension was added to the rear to provide eight units, some of which were let to people with learning difficulties under an agreement with (now) Glasgow City Council's Social Work Department.

A Sheltered Housing development of 29 New Build units followed at Shiskine Place. This has a Warden and Relief Warden who are linked to the tenants by an alarm system. There is also a community room which is frequently used by the tenants for a number of social activities.

In 1992 the Association completed a development at Bilsland Court, Ruchill. This involved converting cottage type property to the front with new build units to the rear to provide 29 in total. This development created a balanced housing mix for young and old and one unit has been let to the Enable Homes. H.R.H. Princess Anne officiated at the opening.

A 39 new build development providing a mix of family housing as well as housing for single homeless followed. A Support Worker was appointed under the Urban Programme to provide supervision at this and other locations involving 16 furnished lets.

The Association has also been involved in a number of improvements and shared ownership developments although our main focus continues to be housing for rent.

STOCK TRANSFER

In 1993 the Association had discussions with the tenants within the Barnes Road area of Ruchill (now Parkhill) on the future of their housing, together with Glasgow District Council and Scottish Homes. This led to a tenants ballot when the tenants decided by an overwhelming majority to transfer their property to the Association. This involved 367 existing units and the Association began a programme of demolition and new build.

The programme for new build breaks down as follows:

Completed;

- For rent 199
- For sale 71
- For shared ownership 6
- For Self-Build 10
- For Eastpark 3

We have worked closely with the local community on these projects, and continue to meet tenants' representatives on a bi-monthly basis.

SELF BUILD

The Association has been one of the first associations in the City to work with local tenants on a community self build project. This was part of our regeneration strategy for Parkhill. This produced 10 units involving local people who were given training skills in the construction industry to assist them to build their own homes which are to be for rent. The self-builders worked with the Association and have been involved in adapting the design of the project to suit their own needs for one, two or three bedroom houses. The self-builders formed themselves into a limited company called Ten Homes Housing Association. A site supervisor supervised the building work.

LOCAL HOUSING ORGANISATION (LHO) PROCESS

The housing stock of Glasgow City Housing has been transferred to Glasgow Housing Association. One of the key aspects of this proposal is that local homes will be managed by a Local Housing Organisation (LHO). Maryhill Housing Association has been chosen through a preference survey of local tenants to be the LHO for this area which covers approximately 2,400 rented homes in Maryhill and Ruchill.

A key impact has been the involvement of GHA tenants who form a sub-committee of the Association. The LHO are responsible for delivering services on the ground and are monitored by the GHA to make sure it complies with the GHA business plan and objectives.

The Association's reasons for becoming involved in this process were as follows;

- We promoted ourselves as an organisation on the basis of not just association tenants, not just council tenants but Maryhill/Ruchill tenants.
- We want to work with local residents groups for the benefit of the local community.
- We believe that Maryhill tenants should have a big say in how their houses are managed, and as a tenant led organisation we believe we are well placed to achieve this.
- We felt that there was a danger that there could be a number of different competing organisations operating locally against each other rather than working together. Our style is to work in partnership.

With the signing of the Interim Management Agreement, all management functions are delegated from GHA to Maryhill LHO. The Community Housing Manager and his staff manage the stock on a daily basis and report to the LHO Sub Committee. He also reports to the Association within the terms of the Schedule of Delegated Authority.