The quango has created four categories from "failing" to "good", which echo the Audit Commission's star-rating system for councils. The corporation stopped short of issuing star ratings, however.
The move appears to be a bid for credibility in the battle to take over as the single housing inspector (HT 1 August, page 7). Both the corporation and commission are to make presentations to the deputy prime minister in two weeks to help him decide whether to choose one of them as the new inspector.
Future Housing Corporation reports will include a response from the organisation under inspection, explaining how it will approach the corporation's recommendations for change.
The quango has also promised more consistency and a standard terminology. Inspection director Roger De La Mare said reports would increasingly reflect the view of the inspectors, which has led to some "difficult discussions" with associations that believe their tenants are happy with the service.
De La Mare said service users should be able to compare council and housing association landlords: "There should be considerable read-across in reports. We closely monitor what the Audit Commission is doing."
But of the Housing Corporation's first four inspection reports under its new system, only one followed the standard terminology.
Longhurst Housing Association gained top marks on both service to tenants and its commitment to continuous improvement and was praised for its "strong commitment to and effective delivery of high standard services, given context and resources". Reports on Arcon, Habinteg, and Nottingham Community housing associations were also published, the result of inspections already under way when the system was changed.
Arcon's summary verdict rested solely on tenants' perception of services. A tenant satisfaction survey found 93% were "very" or "fairly" satisfied, the corporation reported.
Source
Housing Today
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