TPAS ensured tenants were kept informed at every stage throughout the process and their views were taken into account.

Lesley Baird of TPAS Scotland said the ballot was a smooth process.

“Copperworks and Spire View have been working together for many years, they shared a senior staff team and offices,” she said. “The aim of the two organisations coming together was to streamline resources and free up staff time from admin to spend more time working with tenants.”

Lesley added: “As their strapline says, Copperworks and Spire View…stronger as one. Copperworks tenants were invited to vote on the transfer, but Spire View wanted to ensure their tenants were involved throughout the process and consulted at every stage.

“Copperworks Housing Association and View Housing Association appointed TPAS to provide the tenants with an independent tenant advisor to support them throughout the process, and gather tenants’ thoughts and priorities.

“We organised a series of events to ensure tenants could ask questions, raise their concerns and ensure they had their say from pop-in events and tenant hubs to 1:1 tenant consultation. We wanted to maximise the opportunities for tenants to ensure that tenants’ views from both Associations were collected and their hopes for the future of their homes were taken onboard. 274 tenants voted in the ballot; an 87% turnout – the largest turnout in a ballot!! And there was an outstanding majority with 93.1% voting in favour of the plan.

“It was encouraging to see the fantastic relationship the Copperworks staff have with their tenants. They visited and/or phoned each tenant and ensured no-one was left out of the consultation process.

“At TPAS Scotland our mission is to give every tenant in Scotland ‘a voice’. This is a great example of how we can act as an independent advisor to tenants to ensure they can vote and contribute to things that really matter to them.”

Director of Spire View and Copperworks Housing Association, Fiona Murphy, said: “The support and guidance from TPAS Scotland during the transfer consultation process at Copperworks was first class. We worked with Lesley Baird from TPAS Scotland who is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and approachable.

“TPAS engaged brilliantly with our tenants, management committee and staff team and guided us all through the process. This support ensured the staff team understood the process and how best to obtain such a huge turnout.”