THE SELL-OFF of Hyndburn Council's housing stock has moved a step nearer after a jury of tenants voted in favour of a stock transfer.

The matter will now go to a ballot of tenants who will decide whether they want ownership of the borough's 3,600 properties to be passed to a housing association like Blackburn with Darwen Council's Twin Valley.

A jury of 12 tenants voted unanimously for the option last night , one of four put forward by the council.

The other options were the council retaining ownership of the stock; an arms-length management organisation with tenants having a greater involvement in the management of properties; and a private finance initiative with ownership remaining with the council and funding coming from the private sector.

If the stock transfer option is voted through the ownership will transfer to a non-profit organisation.

A year ago the council revealed a £2million repair bill which would lead to a £6.5million shortfall if new government housing standards were to be met by 2010.

Neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen's 10,000 housing stock made the transition from council ownership in 2001.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe announced the tenants' decision at a meeting of the full council last night.

Sylvia Robinson, vice chairman of the Tenants' Participation Committee, said: "It's the only way forward because the money will be there from the sale to upgrade and it will give tenants a much better outlook."

The ballot would be some time off yet, she added.

"All we have done at this stage is ask the council to look further into a stock transfer," she said. "Then the tenants will be balloted but not for some considerable time. There's a lot of groundwork to be done."

Coun Tony Dobson, housing portfolio holder, said: "I think it would be good for the borough because it gives us a long-term vision for council.

"This will be a 30-year plan with 30-year planned financing. At the moment you can't look any further than three to five years ahead, but because it's taken out of the public sector and out of politics, it's a stand-alone business to look at what's the best deal for residents."

He said no deadline had been set for the ballot because councillors had not wanted to prejudge the outcome of the jury vote, and a criteria for the ballot was still to be set.

"We can either have a majority of all tenants or a majority of those tenants who vote. That decision will be made in consultation with our advisors and the jury panel."

Ken Bury, director of the council's Hyndburn Homes, said the ballot would probably take place between June and December next year.