Grenfell Firm To Pass Responsibility For Homes To Council

The firm that managed Grenfell Tower says it will hand over responsibility for thousands of properties to the local council. Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) said it would "temporarily" give control to Kensington and Chelsea Council. The council voted in September to end the contract, a month after the TMO was stripped of responsibility for managing homes in the estate around the tower. The TMO managed almost 10,000 homes. It was heavily criticised after the 14 June fire, in which 71 people died. Read more on the BBC website.

Borough Brings Housing In House

A London borough has brought housing back in house. The council housing management services, previously provided by Brent Housing Partnership (BHP), transferred back to Brent Council this week. It’s a move that follows a 12 week consultation with tenants and leaseholders earlier this year and a raft of improvements to council housing are planned over the next year. Tenancies are already held by the council so residents are being told they will not need to do anything differently and will still receive all the services they currently have access to. Read more on 24housing.

Future Of Brent’s Council Housing To Be Discussed

A report seeking approval to begin a 12 week consultation with residents regarding the future management of Brent's housing will be discussed by Brent Council later this month. Housing management services for Brent are currently delivered by Brent Housing Partnership (BHP), an arm's length management organisation (ALMO) which was set-up in by the Council in 2002. In June, Cabinet commissioned a review of the current arrangements. The review was also a response to concerns with BHP's performance. The options considered were to continue with a reformed BHP, to bring housing management back under direct council control, or to set up a partnership with another housing provider. The recommendation being presented to Cabinet is to bring the service back in-house so it is directly under the council's control. Read more on the Brent Housing Partnership website.

Council Scraps ALMO To Save £500k

A Midlands council is set to take the management of its housing stock in-house to save at least £500,000 a year. Councillors on Ashfield District Council, in Nottinghamshire agreed a report recommending the council scraps its arm’s-length management organisation (ALMO) Ashfield Homes. The council will take advantage of a five-year break clause in its contract with the ALMO to take the management of its 6,800 homes in-house by next April. The decision followed a consultation, including a survey which found 64.6% of 756 tenants were satisfied with the proposals. The council has estimated the proposal will save £500,000 a year through the removal of posts in the back office and of senior staff. Read more on the Ashfield Homes website.

Housing Management Set To Return to Council

Following consultation with residents on a joint recommendation, Hackney Council’s Cabinet has decided to return the management of its housing stock to the Council when its contract with Hackney Homes comes to an end on the 31st of March 2016. The Council recently consulted residents on a joint proposal by Hackney Homes and Hackney Council to return housing management to the Council. All of Hackney secure and introductory tenants and leaseholders were consulted over a three month period, by independent research agency Ipsos MORI. Of the 18% who responded, 56% showed support for the proposal. Read more on the Hackney Council website.

Tenants Back Plans To Dissolve ALMO

Social housing tenants have backed Hackney Council's plans to dissolve its ALMO, Hackney Homes, and bring the management of its housing stock back in-house.  The three month consultation, which closed on 31 October, asked Hackney Homes’ introductory and secure tenants and leaseholders to have their say on the joint proposal, which would see management returned to the council in April 2016.Independent research agency Ipsos MORI has reported a response rate of nearly 20% (6,158), of which 56% showed support for the proposal, 14% opposed, 15% neither supported nor opposed; 12% answered ‘don’t know’ and 2% did not state a preference.  Read more on 24dash.

ALMO's Future Bleak As Council Meets To Discuss Dissolution

Hackney Council is considering dissolving its ALMO, Hackney Homes, and bringing its housing stock back under its own management. The council and the board of Hackney Homes have submitted a joint proposal to consult tenants and leaseholders on returning housing management to the local authority in April 2016. Cabinet will consider the proposals at a meeting next week, and, subject to agreement, the consultation will begin in August. Read more on the Hackney Council website.

Council Told To Improve Housing Services

Leeds City Council's executive board is to receive a report recommending improvements to its housing management services - after consulting its 70,000 tenants.  As part of an eight-week process, all of the council's residents were sent consultation packs and given the chance to attend meetings and road shows.  Over 60% of respondents said they wanted the council to provide all of their housing services, while 20.9% said they preferred a single ALMO option. Just under 20% were undecided.   And over 82% said they wanted to be involved in how their housing is run. The report, which will be presented in June, will recommend bringing services in-house.

Read more on 24dash.