Housing Role for Commission Spin-Off

A John Lewis-style mutual company that is being set up to replace the Audit Commission is to carry out housing inspections. After the government announced in August that it would scrap the commission, staff have been drawing up plans to create a mutual company that will offer audit work in the same way as other private sector firms. A new ‘performance unit’, included within the company, will offer housing inspections. Inspectors initially discussed setting up a separate, independent consultancy following the announcement, but have agreed to merge with the larger company when it is set up from March 2012. The inspections programme for ALMOs - seven for 2010/11 and another seven for 2011/12 - is due to run throughout 2011, but the Tenant Services Authority, which is also due to be scrapped, has not commissioned any new inspections of council housing departments or housing associations after December 2010. Read more on Inside Housing.