Trouble at New Lanark Homes

 A REQUEST FOR REMOVAL

We have received a request for the removal of the letter below. If anybody wants this post removed [or wishes to contest the factual accuracy of its contents] they are welcome to post a comment setting out their case.

It should be noted that copies of the letter were circulated to all residents and its contents discussed at the village meeting of the 22nd July.

A letter from the three directors of New Lanark Homes

Dear Resident,

The Future of Housing in New Lanark: Residents’ Meeting
New Lanark Hotel at 7.00 p.m. on Monday 22 July

We are writing to you as Directors of New Lanark Homes because there are important changes being made by the New Lanark Trust that you should know about.

New Lanark Homes manages the 45 properties in the village that are currently let to people in need at affordable rents.

It is the only charitable subsidiary of the New Lanark Trust, and the only decision-making body in the village that is required to recruit tenants and residents as Directors.

This week tenants received a letter from the Chief Executive of the New Lanark Trust in which he states that New Lanark Trust has resolved to close down New Lanark Homes, to transfer its assets to the Trust, and to make decisions on letting and rent setting itself.

In his letter, he presented these changes as being minor and of a purely administrative nature.

We do not share this view.

We have good reason to expect that over time these changes could have far reaching impacts on tenants and even threaten New Lanark as a community that is open to people to live in, regardless of their means.

It is our duty as Directors of New Lanark Homes to outline the possible implications of this change:

The specific charitable objective of New Lanark Homes to help people in housing need will be lost.
The Trust would be free to let empty properties at market rents, rather than to people who are on the housing list at affordable rents.
The rents of current tenants could be increased until they reach market levels.
The reserves of New Lanark Homes (currently in excess of £200,000) will be transferred to the New Lanark Trust, which could use them to support its general business, rather than to repair and modernise the housing.

In a letter dated 24 June, the Chief Executive of the New Lanark Trust wrote:

“I am considering a proposal to the Trust that vacant properties, and/or properties falling vacant in future, might be offered at commercial rates, and that occupied properties might, in the future, be subject to rent increases more in line with the commercial market.”

Already three properties which have been available to let to families in housing need since at least January have been kept empty on the instruction of the Chief Executive of the New Lanark Trust.

We understand that these properties are now going to be “market tested”, which means let on the open market to find out what market rents could be achieved.

We are disappointed that the New Lanark Trust initiated these changes without allowing the Directors of New Lanark Homes to see any detailed proposal or justification presented to the Trustees, or even to attend the meeting where the decision was made.

We also believe that it was wrong of the Chief Executive to make such important changes without any form of prior consultation with residents.

The Committee of the Village Group shares our concerns and has decided to arrange a meeting at which these developments can be discussed, and any action agreed.

We are pleased that the Director of the New Lanark Trust has agreed to attend, or to send a representative in his place.

The meeting will be held at the New Lanark Hotel at 7.00 p.m. on Monday 22 July.

We very much hope that tenants and other residents who value New Lanark as a community that offers a home to people regardless of their means will attend.

Yours sincerely





Janice Glover            Maureen McCulloch         Prof. Mark Stephens
Director                     Director                             Director
New Lanark Homes  New Lanark Homes           New Lanark Homes
9 Nursery Buildings  13 Long Row                     Mid Lodge, Bonnington
New Lanark               New Lanark                       Lanark