Housing association looking for amateur detectives to launch investigations into itself

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

One of the Midlands' largest housing associations is inviting its tenants to turn detective - and begin investigating itself.

The Accord Group - which runs around 11,000 homes across the Midlands - wants to form a squad of sleuths to perform spot-checks and review the quality of its services.

Working alongside Accord staff, the amateur auditors will be expected to identifying concerns or issues in their communities and make recommendations for how they can be improved.

They will also carry out regular spot-checks on services provided by the Group and its contractors, such as cleaning, landscaping and repairs, to review how they are carried out in practice.

Sara Woodall, Director of Corporate Housing Services for the Accord Group, said: "Giving residents the opportunity to audit our services not only allows for greater openness but also the chance to take a proactive approach in making things better.

"The training and support that residents will receive to become auditors will also help them to boost their skills in team work, communication and report writing."