HOUSING bosses in East London must speed up the time it takes to carry out repairs, warns an Audit Commission report today. Inspectors made the recommendation to Newlon Housing responding to complaints from tenants, including servicing gas appliances

By Mike Brooke

HOUSING bosses in East London must speed up the time it takes to carry out repairs, warns an Audit Commission report today (Thurs).

Inspectors made the recommendation after a short notice’ visit to see how Newlon Housing Trust was responding to complaints from tenants, including servicing gas appliances.

The Commission’s chief housing inspector, Hugh Boatswain, said: “Newlon has made much progress, but there is still more work to be done to ensure a high standard of service to tenants.”

Tenants were having difficulty reporting emergency repairs outside normal office hours, it was found.

The housing trust was not setting a target for repairs to be done in one visit, while some tenants were having several visits before repairs were completed.

But Newlon was praised for the satisfaction by tenants once repairs were done and for undertaking extra safety checks to properties when gas servicing carried out.

It was also easy to contact the trust including text messages. Newlon also got marks for their specialist rent arrears team which was helping tenants keep up to date.

The Audit Commission

report recommends improving response time for repairs and for replies to correspondence and complaints.

Newlon Housing, with its HQ in Hoxton Street in Shoreditch, was established in 1967 with a growing demand for affordable’ housing following the scandal with the notorious slum landlord Peter Rachman and the BBC TV Play Cathy Come Home which highlighted the harsh reality of homelessness.