TENANTS are likely to say yes to a transfer of council homes to a non-profitmaking company, according to research.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has revealed that about 55 per cent of residents contacted in a consultation exercise said they were in favour of the handover - and only seven per cent were against.

Videos and booklets about the proposed handover to Twin Valley Homes, which has been set up to take over the council properties, have been sent to 10,000 households on the borough's crumbling council estates.

A report by council officer Steven Weaver said about 3,000 of the 12,000 tenants entitled to vote had written or phoned the council with their opinions, or had spoken to council officers who went on a door-to-door awareness raising exercise. Of these, 55 per cent were in favour, seven per cent were against and 38 per cent weren't sure or said they needed more information. Some said they were worried about job losses and their rights being affected.

Mr Weaver, community and personal executive director, had advised councillors to proceed with a ballot later this year.

The council's eight-strong cabinet has already agreed to spend nearly £350,000 on the ballot, which will decide the future of the estates.

Twin Valley Homes has promised to spend at least £107million over five years on updating properties if tenants vote yes - a recent survey showed £130million of improvements was needed to bring them up to scratch.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has huge housing debts and is not allowed to borrow cash from the private sector to fund improvements, unlike Twin Valley Homes.

Tenants of Larkhill tower blocks recently voted for non-profitmaking company Space to take over their homes.