The battle for control of housing inspections has begun.
A Chartered Institute of Housing survey of housing professionals found 47% want a new organisation to be the single inspectorate planned by chancellor Gordon Brown (HT 18 July, page 9). 87% backed a single inspectorate.

Support for the Housing Corporation and Audit Commission was roughly equal among the rest.

The Housing Corporation has put in a strong bid to take over. But the downside would be that it would have to introduce star ratings for housing associations. They would be like the ones currently given to councils.

The corporation is to review its inspection system in the spring.

So far it has rejected star ratings, preferring ideas from the USA which concentrate on strengths and weaknesses.

But insiders say the corporation is considering switching to a star system anyway, to bring it into line with other UK systems.

Tenant organisations prefer star ratings because they are easy to use.

Tenant Participation Advisory Service chief executive Phil Morgan said: "We need a common body and a common system. Grading systems allow comparison but people do need assurance that the judgements are fair and reasonable."

But critics say the star ratings are a distraction. Newcastle Tenants Federation development worker Davina Brain said: "The real issue is how rigorous the review is, and whether the improvement plan is robust.

"Bad marks can be tough on tenants because they can mean less resources to get the service improved."

The CIH said any rating system must recognise the different operating environments of councils and housing associations and must retain the confidence of lenders.

Source

Housing Today