AS the ballot for the proposed transfer of council housing stock to London and Quadrant Housing Trust approaches, it occurs to me that the arguments for and against seem to have centred on finance and tenant security. The more important issues, in my opinion, have not been addressed.

Housing is a fundamental issue in the structure of society, and as such, it is highly political. We elect our local government partly on the strength of its housing policy, so if we don't like the level of rent, the repairs policy and so on, we can vote it out.

I think it is unlikely that we will be able to vote off the board of directors of London and Quadrant Housing Trust, so what happens to our democratic rights to determine the direction of housing policy?

I will be voting No in the ballot because I don't believe housing associations have tenants' interests at heart, and I think they will always be driven by market forces.

Quadrant is a not-for-profit organisation, but I wonder if fat salaries for those at the top of such organisations and the multitude of bonuses and perks that we hear about count as profit.

R.W. GIBBONS,

Hainault Road,

Leytonstone