Associations struggle with decent homes
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More than 10 per cent of social housing does not meet the government’s decency standard, Housing Corporation figures have suggested.
The latest performance indictors published by the corporation show 10.9 per cent of homes do not meet the decent homes standard. This is down from 13 per cent in 2007, but is a long way short of the government aim to make all social housing decent by 2010.
The performance indicators record data from housing associations with over 1,000 units. Traditional associations fared better for decent homes, with a 6.8 per cent failure rate, compared with 14.9 per cent for stock transfer associations.
The performance indicators show there has been little change in tenant satisfaction, partly because associations only supply fresh data every three years, so much of it will not have been updated from 2007 (see our quick guide for more detail).
Overall tenant satisfaction remained at 80 per cent, although there was a 20 per cent difference between the best and worst performers. That difference was greater for the satisfaction with repairs and satisfaction with opportunities to participate indicators, at 23 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.
Clare Miller, director of regulation at the corporation, said: ‘The continuing disparity between the best and worst performers is disappointing.’
Referring to the incoming Tenant Services Authority, she added: ‘Quality of service and resident perceptions of their landlords are firmly at the heart of the new regulator’s priorities. Housing associations will need to focus on addressing these issues if they are to better meet expectations.’
Ms Miller will be executive director of governance and viability at the TSA.
Performance indicators 2008
- Tenant satisfaction with overall service - 75 to 85 per cent (2007: 75.3 to 84.9 per cent)
- Tenant satisfaction with opportunities for participation - 53.2 to 67 per cent (2007: 52.8 to 67.2 per cent)
- Tenant satisfaction with repairs and maintenance - 69.4 to 82.4 per cent (2007: 70 to 82 per cent)
- Tenant satisfaction with the quality of new build homes – optional in 2008
- Per cent of social housing stock failing the decent homes standard - 10.9 per cent (2007: 13 per cent)
- Average SAP rating of self-contained GN dwellings - not possible to draw conclusions
- Per cent of social housing rental dwellings vacant at 31 March - 2.4 per cent (2007: 2.6 per cent)
- Average days to re-let all managed social housing dwellings - 40.2 days (2007: 40.4 days)
- Per cent of social housing current tenant rent arrears - to follow later in year
- Shared owners satisfaction with overall service - 61.8 per cent (2007: 62.8 per cent)
- Shared owners satisfaction with the sales process – optional in 2008
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