Hammersmith ALMO regains two star rating
An arm’s-length management association that was given one star and rated ‘disappointing’ by the Audit Commission in 2007 has regained its two-star rating.
In a reinspection following the one star rating, the commission has now found Hammersmith & Fulham Homes delivers a ‘good’ service and has ‘excellent’ prospects.
The chief executive of the ALMO, Billy Rae, left the organisation in January 2008 in the wake of the one star inspection, and subsequently wrote to the commission claiming the inspection was unfair.
Hammersmith & Fulham Homes had previously gained a two star rating, unlocking decent homes funding.
The inspectorate has now judged that the ALMO’s decent homes programme is well managed and its gas servicing is ‘strong’. It also says services are easy to access, and strategies and assessments on diversity are comprehensive.
However it criticises the body for not being ‘sufficiently outcome focused’ in its work on diversity, having limited repair appointment systems, and for inconsistent performance in dealing with communal repairs.
Hugh Boatswain, the Audit Commission’s lead housing inspector for London, said: ‘Hammersmith & Fulham Homes has a clear focus on value for money issues with a robust invest-to-save strategy. However, costs are still relatively expensive, arrears and eviction levels are high and time taken to relet empty properties is worse than average.’
The commission has recommended improvements could be made in a number of areas, including resident involvement, services for vulnerable and diverse groups, and sustainability.
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