Inspectors praise housing services
A council and a housing association have both received positive two-star ratings from the Audit Commission this week.
The strategic housing services provided by Medway Council were rated as ‘good’ with ‘promising prospects for improvement’, and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust received a similar report.
At Medway, the inspection focused on homelessness and housing advice, private sector housing, and work to create new affordable homes.
The council was praised for reducing homelessness, providing good-quality affordable homes, making effective use of the private rented sector, and tackling poor quality housing.
However the inspectors found more could be done to improve access to services and ensure value for money.
Julie Watts, Audit Commission lead housing inspector for the south east, said: ‘The council has responded very positively to our previous inspection in 2008. It has worked well to address the weaknesses identified then and has put plans in place to improve further.’
The report for Bromsgrove District Housing Trust notes repairs are completed quickly, and homes meet minimum standards for safety and warmth. Tenants reported they were highly satisfied with the service they receive.
Criticisms included that some opportunities for involving tenants in the development of services were being missed, quality assurance for repairs and maintenance was not fully developed, and grant funded adaptations were not being effectively monitored.
Deborah Good, Audit Commission lead housing inspector for the west midlands, said: ‘BDHT is focused on meeting the needs of tenants and has has spent more than £30 million on their homes since it was set up in 2004.’
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