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The housing management and maintenance service provided by South Lakes Housing is good and has excellent prospects of improvement, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.
On a scale from zero to three stars the Audit Commission inspection team gave the Kendal-based arms length management organisation (ALMO) a two-star good rating. The services it delivers to its tenants are accessible, its estates are well managed and significant improvements are being made to thousands of homes to bring them up to modern standards.
Paul Clark, the Audit Commissions Lead Housing Inspector for the region, said: South Lakes Housing is delivering good quality housing management services, while also carrying out large scale improvements to its homes. Its governing body, managers and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to service improvement and customers can have confidence that services will continue to get better.
The inspectors found:
- South Lakes Housing has a good understanding of customer requirements and involves them in decision making.
- It is effectively delivering home improvements and provides generally good quality housing management and maintenance services.
- There is a strong emphasis on value for money in how the organisation is run.
- South Lakes Housing works well with South Lakes District Council to deliver its strategic objectives in housing and related fields.
- However, a number of newer policies and procedures are not yet delivering measurable outcomes for customers and there are some weaknesses in frontline management systems.
To help the service improve, inspectors recommended that the organisation should:
- Make various procedural improvements.
- Improve performance management systems and develop the skills of its middle managers.
- Consider offering some services outside of office hours.
Copies of the report are available from South Lakes Housing or from the Audit Commission website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk
