Audit Commission Inspection of Windsor Housing

Windsor Housing response to the interim report from the Audit Commission: We are pleased with the findings and outcome of the interim report from the Audit Commission and, in particular, the recognition that we have significantly improved the time taken to let vacant homes over the last year. A number of our sheltered homes have taken a long time to let and we have already put in place a strategy to make better use of hard to let stock. This includes redevelopment of some sites that have been vacant for some time, and remodelling others to meet modern standards. Options appraisals are underway on the remaining two schemes where we have experienced the most difficulty with filling vacant properties.

We accept that our allocations processes need to be more transparent. The fact that there is no current plan in place to operate choice based lettings in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, where the majority of our stock is located, means that we will need the full support of our main local authority partner if we are to deliver real choice to the majority of our residents.

The process to develop an action plan has started with residents and we are confident that we will be able to make progress on the weaknesses picked up by the Audit Commission following their visit in January.