Council tenants and leaseholders are set for improvements in repairs, customer service and the management of their homes under Haringey Council plans to extend the contract of its arms-length management organisation.
In recommendations to be considered by the council’s Cabinet next Tuesday (September 15th), Homes for Haringey would continue as the body that manages council homes until at least 2026 – alongside other proposals to enable more homes to be built and renovated.
The move follows a thorough nine-month review, including a major survey of all tenants and leaseholders, to consider a range of options for the future management of council homes.
A cross-party panel made up of councillors and tenants led the review, and visited councils across the country to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the different models of managing council housing.
The panel also considered detailed evidence including the condition of homes, financial data and the views of experts before making its recommendations.
The review found increasing levels of satisfaction among tenants, continued performance improvements and little appetite amongst residents for the transfer of services to another organisation.
Councillor Alan Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, who chaired the review, said: “We believe that every family in Haringey has the right to a modern, high-quality home, and this review has given us an opportunity to consider the best way to achieve that in the interests of local people.
“Many councils have taken quick decisions about the future management of social housing, but we are clear that this a really important issue for residents, which is why we set up this detailed review and took on board the views of everybody involved.
“We know that Homes for Haringey gives a good service to residents and has been delivering vital home improvements through the Decent Homes programme – but tenants and leaseholders have been clear that it can be even better.
“We’ve set challenging targets in this new contract that aims to make our housing service become one of the best in the country, alongside new ways to build the thousands of new homes Haringey needs.”
Set up in 2006, Homes for Haringey is responsible for the day-to-day management of council homes – currently more than 20,000 tenant and leasehold properties.
Andrew Billany, Managing Director of Homes for Haringey, said: “We are delighted and really proud to be invited to continue our work in Haringey, for tenants, leaseholders and people in need of housing.
“Our board and staff are focused on the quality of services, at a time when money is tight and the challenges are great, so I am very happy to see that this has been recognised in the council’s review.
“I am especially pleased to see the survey of tenants showing increased levels of satisfaction. Getting better at engaging with tenants, leaseholders and people in need of housing sits at the core of our plans to be one of the best housing providers in the country, and we welcome the council setting its expectations high.”
Homes for Haringey has successfully taken on new and challenging homelessness and housing support services during the past year, to add to its housing management role, giving a further reason to extend its contract.
The Cabinet report also sets out plans for a separate development vehicle which could help deliver thousands of new social, affordable and private homes, and work with tenants to bring regeneration on housing estates.
Separate detailed consultation with residents in Noel Park and Broadwater Farm to discuss long-term improvements to housing is due to start later this year.
