TSA and Audit Commission unveil interim approach to inspecting social housing providers

The Tenant Services Authority and the Audit Commission have issued a joint statement setting out the interim arrangements for all TSA-commissioned inspections of social housing providers between now and October 2010.

The statement affects housing associations, local authorities (including those with ALMOs), and co-operatives - in all, it applies to nearly 1,800 social housing providers in England.

The joint statement on inspection was issued as the TSA’s new regulatory framework for the sector came into effect.

Social housing providers now have to meet six national standards. These relate to: tenant involvement and empowerment; the home (including repairs and maintenance and quality of accommodation); tenancy; neighbourhood and community; value for money; and governance and financial viability.

The TSA and the Audit Commission said the main inspection methodology would remain unchanged during the six-month period but “new arrangements include:

• The Audit Commission will use only those parts of the Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) that are directly related to the TSA standards
• Providers will be notified by the TSA of the reasons they are being inspected, the service areas that are being inspected and the relevant KLOE extracts that align to these standards
• Inspections will focus on the providers giving assurance and evidence as to how they are meeting the standards and delivering outcomes to tenants, as well as considering their ability for improvement, and
• The TSA and Audit Commission will publish the reports and the TSA will oversee delivery of the improvement plan as part of establishing compliance with the standard.”

The TSA said it will consider the use of enforcement powers where self-improvement is not appropriate or is proving unsuccessful.

The joint statement does not cover all ALMO inspections commissioned to release Decent Homes funding, which will continue to be conducted using the full suite of Key Lines of Enquiry.

The two organisations will publish a joint consultation in May this year on a proposed inspection methodology to apply from October 2010.

Audit Commission Chief Executive Steve Bundred said: “This statement ensures that our inspections of social housing landlords will be clearly focused and will help drive improvements on behalf of tenants.”