Developments in inspection and assessment

1. Developments in inspection and assessment Roy Irwin Chief Inspector of Housing

2. Who are the best landlords?

4. What does this tell us? • ALMOs are the highest performing provider with 80% achieving a good or excellent inspection score • There is no clear trend of performance improving over time • 68% of inspections found that landlord services were fair (55%) or poor (13%) • A significant proportion of social housing tenants are not receiving a good service from their landlord

5. Cave review • Commissioned in December 2006 and reported in June 2007 • Review of the regulation of social housing, making proposals for a system of regulation and an institutional framework. • Set the objectives of regulation as: • the continued provision of high quality social housing • to empower and protect tenants • to expand the choice of provider at all levels in the provision of social housing • Recommended the establishment of an independent regulator

6. Context for the new regulatory agenda • Oftenant responsible for regulating HAs from 2009 • ALMOs / LA landlord services to be included within 2 years • Currently no common set of standards or PIs exist across the housing domain • Prof Ian Cole appointed to explore consistency • Housing Bill requires the regulator to set service standards

7. Possible rewards? • Less regulation, inspection or prescription for providers • Reduced fees • Fewer and less regular returns • More freedoms • Rent flexibility • Benefits – awards, opportunities to influence, etc • Positive reports to H&CA

8. Possible sanctions? • More regulation, greater likelihood of inspections • More prescriptive requirements • Higher fees • Fuller information returns / improvement plans • Fewer freedoms • Compensation payments to tenants • Fines • Transfers of stock management / ownership • No investment funding following negative reports to H&CA

9. Audit Commission’s role • Working closely with emerging Oftenant agenda but no immediate change in 2008/09 • Future links between Oftenant’s standards and AC KLOEs • Continuing role in landlord inspections • Other types of assessments and research • Continuing use of Tenant Inspection Advisors • Links to new local performance framework • Strategic housing function inspections • Supporting People • Private sector housing • Homelessness and housing advice

10. Meanwhile … Short Notice Inspections Background • Government agenda – ‘The future of local services inspection’ November 2005 • Elton Review - reducing the burdens of regulation • Use of short notice in other sectors – e.g. Ofsted • Changing focus of regulation and inspection – outcomes and performance management • Risk assessment

11. Piloting Short Notice Inspections • Smaller scope with a greater focus on outcomes • Reducing the burden of inspection and cost of preparation • Impact of recommendations from previous inspection on improving services • Use of existing evidence - previous inspection reports, Housing Corporation Assessment (HCA), PIs, HA’s own assessment of performance (where they have one) • Use of Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) – selected services with related cross cutting themes and Judgement 2 • Consideration of the consequences of poor results - full service re-inspection, second SNI, exclusion from future programme

12. Pilot programme • Pilot programme from October 2007 to now • Focus on 12 volunteers - some 1 HAs and HAs which have not been inspected • Pilot reports are not being published but the HA’s are being encouraged to publish them independently • Full evaluation in process and review of policy and procedures will follow • Second half of 2008/2009 HA inspection programme earmarked for possible SNI programme

13. Meanwhile, meanwhile … Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) • The new joint assessment framework led by the Audit Commission for local services from 2009 • A catalyst for further improvement in the quality of life for citizens, the experience of people who use services and VFM for tax payers • A source of independent information and assurance about local services for citizens and central government • A mechanism for coordinating, rationalising and targeting inspection, improvement support and interventions where they are most needed

14. CAA – key components • For areas: annual area risk assessment (“prospects for the area and the quality of life for local people”) by inspectorates jointly; and performance on the new national indicator set • For councils, NHS trusts, police authorities and fire and rescue authorities: annual use of resources judgement (by appointed external auditor)

15. Scope of CAA • Focus on outcomes which are the responsibility of the local authority either alone or working in partnership with other public, voluntary or private sector bodies This includes:  health and well-being  community safety  sustainable communities  economic development  delivery of better and more housing  children’s services • Other service-specific performance frameworks will continue, but will need to fit with CAA

16. Housing Markets Assessment – key component of CAA • Housing market performance critical to success of an area • Need to be at the heart of the risk assessment • Housing and delivery framework • Need a picture of the market and critically… • Plans to make the housing market meet the needs of the community

17. Questions For you – How do you see service delivery going forward being improved? For me – …?