Council reaches milestone in overhaul of housing repairs service

Croydon’s drive to improve its housing service has reached a significant milestone with contracts to be offered to new partners to provide an upgraded and improved repairs service for council tenants.

This follows a competitive procurement process led by the council, while listening to and working in partnership with tenants and leaseholders. As a result, the new repairs service will be delivered by three new contractors once the current contract comes to an end in August.

The preferred bidders were approved at Cabinet this week and the successful contractors have now been notified.

Prior to contracts being awarded, a ten-day ‘standstill’ period takes place and there will be a 30-day consultation with all council leaseholders.

Following residents’ feedback, contracts for the repairs service have been split into three areas to reduce dependency on one contractor.

The repairs and voids service, which will carry out responsive repairs, maintenance and empty property works to council properties has been split out into two areas; with Mears set to provide repairs to 30 per cent of the council’s homes by covering New Addington, Fieldway, Shrublands and Monks Hill.

Wates will provide the service to the other 70 per cent of the council’s properties across the borough.

A third contractor, PH Jones, will provide heating services including boiler repairs and servicing.

Changes to the repairs service include bringing the repairs call centre in-house giving the council a more direct responsive relationship with tenants. The new call centre is set to be up and running by the summer.

This milestone forms an important part of Croydon’s housing transformation programme which has been developed in line with Executive Mayor Perry’s priorities to invest in council homes, drive up standards, develop the workforce and create a responsive and effective housing service that provides residents with warm, dry homes that they are proud to call home.

Council tenants will continue to play an important role in the new repairs service with ongoing involvement in monitoring the delivery and performance of the contracts.

Jason Perry

“This is an important and essential milestone for our tenants, leaseholders and housing service. It is vital that we listen to our residents and treat them with respect. That is why we have selected three providers that submitted strong bids and each bring a wealth of experience to help us provide a better and more responsive repairs and heating service for everyone who uses it.

“I am so grateful to all our tenants and leaseholders who have helped us in this process, their input has been invaluable in shaping the future service. It doesn’t end here – our residents’ voices will continue to help us as we monitor and review the new and improved repairs service.”

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon

2023-08-14T14:25:06+01:00 March 8th, 2023|Recent news|