Developing new ways to generate efficiency savings in year two of the Gershon Review is the greatest challenge facing housing professionals. That's according to 41% of housing associations and housing departments polled in a survey commissioned by IBS OPENSystems.
A further 32% identified that channelling the right level of resources into achieving efficiency targets is a major pressure and that the Decent Homes Standard in particular has distracted efforts and resources from other priorities.
Maintaining housing repairs and stock poses the greatest threat to effective housing stock management according to 40% of those surveyed. Reducing rent void times and delivering affordable housing are the greatest headache according to 36% and 32% respectively.
When it comes to sharing information with other departments, 35% feel that lack of clarity in the Data Protection Act combined with a lack of understanding about what processes need to be implemented are hindering a truly joined up approach.
Manchester City Council selected Comino to support the automation of its housing department. The £3.3 million project will include Comino's Universal Housing suite, transactional (back office) housing, Workflow, Electronic Document Management, and Contact Manager. The procurement is part of the Council's Housing Investment and Diversity projects.
Wheatley Associates, a UK provider of software solutions used by companies to schedule home appointments by service technicians, was awarded a contract by Havebury Housing Partnership to manage its repairs service. The Association owns 5,700 homes for affordable rent in West Suffolk. Wheatley's software solution, called GRASP, will be used by Havebury to increase its efficiency in booking and fulfilling housing repair appointments for tenants.