Blueprint to tackle mould and damp in homes

More than 8,000 council tenants in North Yorkshire are set to benefit from a new strategy to improve the quality of service they receive.

The scheme includes new processes to tackle essential maintenance issues such as damp and mould inside properties.

North Yorkshire Council said it also would make it easier for tenants to report problems and give them a greater say in how services are delivered.

The housing improvement strategy is due to be considered by councillors next week as part of a five-year blueprint to help provide the best possible outcomes for tenants.

The strategy was devised following a series of surveys seeking people's views on the current quality of service provided and areas where they felt improvement was required.

Executive member for housing, Simon Myers, said the authority took its responsibility as a social landlord seriously and it was important to provide a "safe and secure home" for all tenants.

"We currently own and manage about 8,500 properties across North Yorkshire, and we are committed to providing good quality affordable and sustainable housing which meets the needs of our diverse communities," he said.

Following the creation of North Yorkshire Council in April 2023, a range of issues were identified within tenant services which led to a self-referral to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).

A subsequent inspection identified some areas that required improvements including governance, health and safety and providing adequate opportunities for tenants to influence and scrutinise the service being delivered.

The authority has created a housing improvement board to oversee the required improvements.

A scrutiny panel was also formed to help residents work more closely with the council to influence service delivery, as well as a newsletter, Open Door, which has been launched and is co-produced by a group of tenants.

"We have carried out significant work since local government reorganisation and the launch of North Yorkshire Council two years ago to improve the way we support residents, including launching an online reporting tool for condensation, damp and mould to make it easier for tenants to let us know when there is a problem," Myers said.

These measures form part of a housing improvement plan which shows what the authority has already done and plans to do to achieve towards RSH compliance.

The plan is due to be presented to the council's executive on Tuesday as well as a wider five-year strategy which extends beyond becoming compliant and sets out how tenants will be at the heart of future service improvements.

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