Riverside, one of the largest social landlords in the country, has appointed Ark Housing Consultancy to work on its next tranche of housing stock transfers in the south of England.

The social landlord is planning to transfer 600 properties that are widely dispersed, to improve neighbourhood services and increase cost effectiveness.

Riverside’s stock rationalisation programme is in line with the Tenant Services Authority’s (TSA) latest directive in the report Location location location. Social landlords are being encouraged to achieve efficiencies, improve service delivery to tenants, support neighbourhood management and improve relationships with local authorities and communities through swaps, transfers and management agreements.

The stock rationalisation follows Riverside’s successful transfer of 272 properties along the south coast to Saxon Weald Homes in January 2009, providing a welcome boost to its financial security and more locally based service for tenants.

Riverside selected Ark following a framework exercise by Valueworks, the procurement specialists who managed the selection process on behalf of Riverside. The framework consists of a number of property specialists, including valuation services and management consultants in place for the next four years.

Mark Martin, Riverside’s head of stock rationalisation would like to invite other social landlords to join the framework.

He said: "The Valueworks process has selected four very competent partners – all specialists in their field. This means that we do not have to go through a lengthy procurement process for our rationalisation projects – saving time and money in the process.

"We have on hand a group of experts to advise on strategy and process throughout. We would like to invite other social landlords that are planning stock rationalisation to join us.”