The Audit Commission is to rationalise its approach to housing inspection across councils, registered social landlords and arm's-length management organisations.
The commission's strategic plan for 2004-07 aims to make a priority of questions surrounding value for money and to lighten the burden of inspection on the best-performing organisations.

For housing providers, the changes will see clearer judgment criteria set out before inspection. They will also be asked to carry out self-assessments before being inspected.

Senior appointments to the Audit Commission over the past two years have heavily influenced the strategic plan.

James Strachan, chair of the commission since November 2002, has made it clear that he favours a more strategic approach to regulation (HT 3 October 2003, page 13).

Source

Housing Today