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This month members will consider how the council will provide housing management and maintenance services when the current contract with New Vision Homes comes to an end in 2022.
New Vision Homes was appointed in 2012 to manage 5,000 properties and respond to the needs of 3,800 tenants and leaseholders. A maximum five-year extension was added to the contract in 2017 and with less than 18-months remaining, future arrangements are being explored.
In a report due to be considered by the Council’s Executive (Thursday 8 October), a number of service delivery models have been put forward by the Director of Housing with the preference being a hybrid model. This would see the housing management and asset management elements of the service brought back in-house and maintenance and repairs services delivered externally but directly managed by the Council.
Cllr Debbie Harlow, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “We want our tenant and leaseholders to live happy, healthy and independent lives and I’m grateful to New Vision Homes for supporting us in this aim for the best part of a decade.
“With the current arrangements coming to an end in March 2022 we’re presented with an opportunity to rethink the way we deliver housing services differently so that we can achieve a broader set of outcomes.”
Louise Strongitharm, Woking Borough Council’s Director of Housing said: “Bringing elements of the service back in-house would give the council greater control over the things that matter most to tenants and leaseholders and gives us greater freedom to respond to changes in government policy or local housing need.
“Over the remaining 18-months we will continue to work closely with New Vision Homes to ensure tenant and leaseholder needs are met, which includes consulting them about the future direction of the service.”
A six-week consultation with tenants and leaseholders on the Executive Committee’s preferred approach will start in November.
View the Executive Committee report