Watchdog introduces new housing spot checks

The Audit Commission is introducing short notice inspections for housing associations following a successful pilot programme. The shorter inspections will take less time to complete than the conventional inspections, as they will specifically target weaker services. This new approach will reduce the regulatory burden, while at the same time driving through improvements in services to tenants and leaseholders.

Short notice inspections will focus on the quality of services provided to tenants and leaseholders. In future the housing inspectors can home in on just one or two services, for example, emergency repairs to tenants homes or the responses to complaints about anti-social behaviour.

The first short notice inspections could be on site as early as this Autumn in the wake of the pilot programme that involved 12 volunteer housing associations. In addition, the Audit Commission now intends to extend this approach and will be consulting shortly with local authorities and arms length management organisations.

Steve Bundred, Chief Executive of the Audit Commission, said:
The pilot programme has shown we can successfully deliver a new style of inspection that puts the spotlight on weaker performing or failing services. By working with housing associations and other housing providers, we can help them to improve services to their customers. The volunteers from the pilot programme have suggested ways to improve the impact of the inspections and we are very grateful to them.

Instead of a few months advance warning, those taking part in the pilot programme were given five days notice. Each inspection team spent three days on site, focusing on the three weakest performing services. With less time for housing associations to prepare, inspectors could get a true picture of how the services operate.

The Audit Commission and the Housing Corporation will jointly decide which housing associations and services will be subject to a short notice inspection. Inspectors reports will continue to be published, but details of the inspection programme will not be given out.