Audit Commission inspection

Trafford Housing Trust is delighted after its first Audit Commission inspection judged the organisation as having excellent prospects for improvement.

The housing service provided by Trafford Housing Trust was awarded one star in the independent report released by the Audit Commission today (14 August).

Matthew Gardiner, Chief Executive of the two-year-old not-for-profit housing organisation, said: “We are incredibly proud of our first rating from the Audit Commission. One star with excellent prospects of improvement demonstrates that the Trust has come a very long way in a short space of time.

“Having excellent prospects of improvement reflects the commitment of the Trust’s employees and Board to provide homes and services where customers are at the heart.

“Of course there is still much to do, but this result confirms we are well on the path towards excellence. And that already, with only a little over two years behind us, we are well placed to deliver much more than our transfer agreement promises.”

On a scale of zero to three stars, the Audit Commission inspection team gave the service a one star ‘fair’ rating because services are easy to access and are customer focused. It said the Trust has made significant progress improving the quality and standard of services and homes since it was created.

Paul Clarke, Audit Commission Lead Housing Inspector for the North West, said: “Although THT has only received one star this is still a good news story. Housing services have greatly improved in a very short time.

“Homes are being improved to a high standard. Tenants are closely involved developing services and are offered a broad range of choice over improvement work.

“THT’s leadership is driving further improvement and we are confident that it will continue its good progress.”


Key strengths highlighted by the Audit Commission include:

• Customer satisfaction with services is generally high.

• A strong focus on tenant safety with over 99 per cent of the annual gas servicing programme being completed on time.

• Customer focused rent recovery procedures offer a wide range of benefit advice and rent payment options.

• Firm action to deal with anti-social behaviour is balanced with support and preventative work.

• Effective homelessness and housing advice services provided on behalf of the Council.

It also highlights a number of issues which need to be tackled, including:

• THT lacks a clear profile of its customers to help tailor services to meet individual needs.

• Improvement plans for some homes have not been finalised and the approach to energy efficiency and environmental issues is just developing.

• Performance completing repairs on time and making sure empty homes are repaired to a high standard.

• A lack of clear and accurate information on the cost and quality of individual services.