Islington Council is set to take on housing repairs and maintenance for more than 4,000 council homes following month-long public consultation.
The council announced yesterday (July 9) that one of its two Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts that manage council housing stock, is due to end in April 2022.
The contract (PFI2), covers more than 4,000 council homes and the approaching end date meant that the council needed to consider how the housing maintenance and repair would be carried out going forward.
The consultation asked residents if they wanted the work to be the responsibility of the council, or another external provider, and of the 392 respondents, 91% wanted the council to deliver the work directly.
The results, and a comprehensive options appraisal have led to a report, published this week (July 8), recommending the council’s Executive bring the management of these homes back in-house.
Cllr Diarmaid Ward, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said:
“An overwhelming majority of people in PFI2 homes who responded to our consultation told us that they want their housing and maintenance services brought back in-house. A final decision will be made by the Executive on July 16.
“Bringing these homes back under council management will allow us to put customer satisfaction and quality service provision at the heart of these services, while at the same time delivering value for money for all of our residents.
“We will continue to work closely with Partners while they continue to manage our council homes.”
Surveyors will visit some of the houses over the coming months to assess the situation and the work that may need to be done, as part of preparation for the end of the contract.
The remaining contract (PFI1), responsible for around 2,000 homes, does not expire until 2033.
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