Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Housing and Health on House Maintenance with a particular emphasis on asset management including the safety of Mid Devon Housing’s repairs and maintenance.

The Committee had before it and NOTED a report from the Head of Housing and Health with an update on Mid Devon Housing repairs and maintenance.

The Operations Manager for Housing presented the report.

The following was highlighted:-

·         The report outlined Mid Devon Housing repairs and maintenance.

·         All registered providers must provide an effective, efficient and timely repairs and maintenance service for their homes and communal areas for which the Council was responsible.

·         The report detailed some of the challenges, both old and new that the Council were currently dealing with.

Discussion took place with regard to:-

·         Palmerston Park play area.

·         How long would the four properties near Cheriton Fitzpaine be empty for?  It was explained that planning permission was being sought for six new properties to replace the four empty properties as they were at the end of their life. 

·         The different categories of housing that the Council were responsible for.  It was explained that the report outlined the Council’s social housing.  The Council did have other properties within their ownership which would fall under different legislation.

·         How did the social housing property management systems “Integrator” and “AICO” help look after residents and ensure that money was being spent wisely?  It was explained that “Integrator” was an asset management programme that listed every detail about the Council’s housing stock which fed back into the Council’s housing system which was called Orchard MRI.   This was where all work was raised and also held personal details of the residents.   AICO was an external company that produced smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and all of the Council’s alarms were provided by AICO.  

·         A system called “Gateway” had the ability to environmentally monitor properties which included humidity, temperature, dust mites, damp and mould and carbon monoxide.  All of those details were monitored live to ensure that if metrics reached a certain level an alarm would be activated for any issues that were critical or high risk.

·         The percentage of properties that had the monitors?  It was explained that there were a total of 174 systems in place.  The Council could not monitor properties without the tenant’s permission and a disclaimer form must be signed by them giving permission for their information to be used.

·         Whether voids were included in the compliance figures and further understanding of the 60% electrical compliance figures.  It was confirmed that voids were included within the compliance figures.   Electrical testing in social housing would become legislation.  Currently 99% of properties had an inspection but it was not in line with legislation that would begin in two weeks.  This would be carried out over a period of 5 years to become 100% compliant.

·         How did Mid Devon Housing assess against the decent home standard?  It was confirmed that there was an internal process for the decent home standards.  A stock condition survey was carried out every 11 years and from that the Council modelled a 30 year maintenance programme.  Every aspect of a property had a life cycle which was monitored.  The Council were 99% compliant.  The reason why it was not 100% compliant was due to tenants declining any offers of works.

·         Section 4.4 of the report stated that during 2024/25 a total of £70,000 was issued in recharges to outgoing tenants.  How much of that was written off?  It was explained that a lot of the charges could be from damage made from current tenants so the charges were not always written off.  Tenants could be stopped from moving properties or carrying out a mutual exchange if there was a default on their account.

·         The construction of homes in Beech Road and homes in St George’s Court.   It was explained that with regard to Beech Road there were 6 properties complete with a further 2 properties which were not complete.  There were issues with utilities that could not be disclosed.   For St George’s Court, the first number of flats were advertised several weeks ago.  Six new tenants had signed contracts for the flats.  The 11 houses were fully occupied.  Six flats out of the first wave were allocated and another 8 flats would be advertised this week.  All works had been carried out.

Note: *Report previously circulated