Maryhill Local Housing Organisation

Maryhill Local Housing Organisation is a sub committee of Maryhill Housing Association. On behalf of the Association, the LHO is charged with managing the 2247 units of GHA stock located between Queen Margaret Drive and Summerston. This also incorporates the former council owned properties in Ruchill. The management of the stock is in line with the Remodelled Management Agreement between the Association and the GHA.

Governance

The LHO Management Committee currently consists of 12 elected tenants and owners. Elections are held annually, by way of an Election Forum, where members of the LHO are invited to stand for Committee Membership. If two or more candidates are in competition for one Committee vacancy, then the membership is invited to vote for its preferred candidate. Unopposed candidates are automatically elected to the Committee.

The Committee meets twice a month to consider policies, performance and to approve investment programmes. This information is also provided to the main Management Committee of Maryhill Housing Association, which meets every second Friday of the month. The LHO has two permanent representatives of the Association Management Committee.

Stock

The stock portfolio is wide and varied and consists of MSF, pre 1919 tenements, interwar stock, deck access, traditional block types, semi detached and terraced houses. Over the last three years some 10 million pounds has already been spent on a rolling programme of investment, which includes new central heating, new kitchens and bathrooms, new windows, roofs and overcladding. Major environmental works will follow on from this investment.

Regeneration

In addition, in January 2006, the GHA and the LHO commissioned the Towler & Hyslop Team to prepare the Maryhill Development Study. The study brief was to

• Provide an assessment of the long term viability of housing stock within the specified area.
• Provide recommendations as to the number and location of stock with no long term future with suggested timescales and phasing for resulting clearance and demolition.
• Provide options and recommendations regarding the best use of land resulting from the demolitions.
• Provide detailed and costed plans for potential new build, which takes account of requirements for house type, size and tenure balance to ensure long term viability of both new build and surrounding retained housing.

The study has now been completed and the resulting recommendations, already approved by the LHO Committee, currently lie with the GHA for final consideration.