Tenants have opted to keep their homes under council control, despite only a tiny proportion of residents bothering to cast a vote.

Housing chiefs at Kingston Council said they would now embark on the challenge of bringing council homes up to the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010.

Between February 28 and June 17 this year, tenants gave feedback about whether they wanted to remain under council jurisdiction, have their homes administered by a private finance initiative, transferred to another social landlord or run by the tenants themselves through an ALMO (Arms Length Management Organisation).

They were consulted through Homelife newsletters, neighbourhood meetings and nine iPlus information points around the borough.

But only 400 of the 4,800 tenants who received the form on which they could cast their vote bothered to send it back.

Kingston Councillor Penny Shelton said she thought only a small percentage of people had voted, because they opted to keep council stock in council hands in the controversial stock transfer ballot last year.

But one resident told the Comet that bringing homes up to a reasonable standard was merely the tip of the iceberg.

Roy Cooper, 55, who lives on the Cambridge Estate, said: "There are a lot of social problems on this estate and others like it, which should be dealt with. People in general need to feel they have a purpose in life and youngsters need more discipline."

Director of housing, Mike England, said the latest responses gave a strong message that residents still wanted the council to continue managing their homes.

He said: "People like what they know. Most tenants like the way council housing is run in Kingston and are satisfied with what they have got.

"This was clarified in the vote against stock transfer last year, when 62 per cent voted to keep property in council's hands.

"The council is able to bring property up to the required Government standard with the £36 million already delegated until 2010 plus £10m prudential borrowing, giving a boost of about an extra £2 million (30 per cent) each year.

"So in total, we are putting £46m into housing stock by 2010".

He said work scheduled for the autumn would include making properties wind and weather-tight, plus, where necessary, roof repairs, window replacements, re-wiring, better heating and modernised kitchens and bathrooms. However, funds could not include environmental improvements.

Mr England said about 28 per cent of homes did not reach the decent homes standard.

The council was due to approve the outcome of the options appraisal at a meeting of the housing consultative committee yesterday (Tuesday) evening.

ygordon@london.newsquest.co.uk