For more than a year, Arklet, which operates in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire, has been working with Hanover to prepare a partnership proposal. Both organisations believe they will be even better together and can offer all their tenants a better service.

A vote on the proposal saw 98% of Arklet tenants approve the merger, on a turnout of 58.6%.

Arklet Tenants’ Forum chair, Maggie Lynch, said: “The Tenants’ Forum has been fully involved in choosing Hanover and we encouraged all tenants to vote for the future.

“This is the result we’ve been waiting for – Arklet has been a great landlord for over 50 years and we know that Hanover will provide the financial stability, continued quality and caring management we want for the next 50 years.”

Arklet said its tenants will begin benefitting from a fairer, more affordable rent structure. Rents and service charges will then be further reviewed over five years to align Arklet’s with Hanover’s.

Home improvements will be completed when they’re due, sheltered and amenity housing tenants will have access to home contents insurance from just £2 a week and opportunities for tenant participation will be expanded.

Iain Ross Wallace, Arklet’s chairman, is a tenant who is also focused on the future.

He said: “Arklet’s 400 homes and residents will soon be part of Hanover, which will give our staff more career opportunities as well as benefits to our tenants. Arklet began as Glasgow Jewish Housing Association in 1967 to provide local homes for Jewish people displaced by the Gorbals slum clearances.

“It grew to provide new specialist homes and services for Jewish elders and it changed into Arklet in 2004 when it widened its services to be accessible to all in housing need. Now it’s a great match for Hanover – with homes in the same areas south of Glasgow, the same culture of personalised service and the same ambitions to be always innovative and inclusive.”

Mike Martin, chair of Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association, which has over 5000 homes throughout Scotland, agreed.

“I am delighted that Arklet has chosen Hanover to be its partner as it is clear to me that we share the same values and aspirations,” he said. “Both organisations will benefit from sharing our skills, knowledge and passion for providing good quality homes with care and support for our residents. I am really looking forward to our future together.”

All 345 Arklet tenants were asked to vote yes or no on a transfer of engagements from Arklet Housing Association Ltd to Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association Ltd. The next stage is for members of the Association (who are mainly also tenants) to vote at two special general meetings to formalise the transfer, which it is hoped will complete on November 1.