Kier group and Islington Council have formed a public-private partnership to provide building repair and maintenance in the north London borough.
The new firm, Caxton Islington, has a £120m 10-year contract to repair council housing stock, clean windows and buildings and maintain heating services.
The firm has taken over the 500 staff employed by the council's previous direct labour organisation, Islington Building Services. It says it will double the number of repairs carried out in one visit and complete all repairs within 25 days.
Islington housing chariman Joe Trotter said: "We are determined to bring hundreds of flats and houses back into use."
