The transfer will deliver £6.3 million of investment in tenants’ homes and the local community, alongside a locked in five-year affordable rent guarantee and continued local services delivered by a new combined team based in Thurso.

The tenant ballot closed on November 2 and once counted by Civica Election Services, a resounding 91.9% of votes were in favour of the partnership on an exceptionally high turnout of 73.4%

Jim Hair, the chair of Pentland’s board, said: “The board are delighted that not only have our tenants shared our vision for the future of their homes and services, but that they have turned out in huge numbers to make their voices heard at the ballot box. We worked closely with Cairn to develop an exciting transfer proposal that has been shaped by our tenants through months of public consultation.

“The result of the ballot is great news for our tenants and the wider community, and we will be hard at work with our colleagues at Cairn in the months ahead preparing for the transfer.”

Don Jamieson, the chair of Cairn’s board, said: “We are thrilled that the Pentland tenants have backed the transfer to Cairn with their resounding support for the transfer promises. We look forward to welcoming tenants, other customers and the staff team to join us at Cairn.”

Pentland decided to transfer to Cairn in 2019 following a strategic review. Talks between the two organisations resumed towards the end of last year following a Covid-enforced pause to proceedings at the beginning of the first lockdown.

The Pentland board will now meet to discuss the result of the ballot before calling a Special General Meeting where they will ask shareholding members to formally approve the transfer of engagements to Cairn. 

Cairn Housing Group will have around 4,500 homes under its management when the transfer concludes in April 2022 as expected.