Weakness in the Guinness Trust's management of antisocial behaviour cases meant the association failed to get a top rating from the Audit Commission's housing inspectorate.
Guinness is one of the largest associations in the country with more than 20,000 properties. But, according to an Audit Commission inspection report published last Thursday, it gives only a "satisfactory" service to tenants – the second highest inspection score associations can achieve.

The report said the trust needed to "work on recording, monitoring and legal action arrangements when managing antisocial behaviour cases". It continued: "Officers do not always respond to all incidents reported or introduce timely legal action."

In response, Guinness said it would follow the commission's recommendations.

Other inspection results published last week included: two stars for Basildon District Council's housing services; one star for Bolsover District Council's repairs and maintenance; one star for Stratford-upon-Avon District Council's housing and revenues services; and New Islington & Hackney Housing Association, which manages almost 6000 homes in Essex and London, was found to provide a "satisfactory" service to tenants.

n Arena Housing Association has signed a £12m public-private partnership with Warrington council to replace old homes with private and social properties.

In a separate deal, it will also build 140 affordable homes on a brownfield site for Liverpool Housing Trust at a cost of £6.7m.

Source

Housing Today