Agenda item

The Director of Spadesbourne Homes Limited presented the performance monitoring report for the company for quarters 2 and 3 of the 2025/26 financial year for Members’ consideration.

In presenting the report, Members were asked to note the following:

·             Data revealed that 100 per cent of repairs had been completed according to deadline.

·             There had been 6 complaints received during the period which had all been addressed within agreed timescales.

·             There had been a total of 16 void properties.

·             There was 1 tenant who was in arrears, 3 former tenants in arrears and another on a payment plan.

Following the presentation of the report, Members discussed a number of points in detail:

·             The extent to which Spadesbourne Homes Limited would be impacted by new duties under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.  Confirmation was provided that the duties would apply to Spadesbourne Homes Limited as the company was renting out properties to tenants on the open market.

·             The reasons why rent arrears had accrued, including for former tenants, and the extent to which the company’s Directors were confident about the checks that were conducted prior to a tenancy agreement being signed.  The Committee was informed that reference checks were obtained, however, people’s personal circumstances could change.

·             The number of void properties managed by Spadesbourne Homes Limited and whether this corresponded with the numbers built into the business plan for the company.  It was proposed that this should be addressed in the following performance monitoring report presented to the Committee.

·             The potential for a breakdown of void property numbers to be provided over time.  It was proposed that this should be addressed in the following performance monitoring report presented to the Committee.

·             The potential for the breakdown of void properties to clarify the types of property that were voids (e.g. houses or flats.)

·             The cumulative total for voids that had been recorded in the report.  Clarification was provided that the figures in the report referred to average void times.

·             The extent to which the term “cumulative” had been appropriate for use in the report.  The Directors confirmed that the term “average” would be more appropriate.

·             The void levels at the company and how these compared to the market average.

·             The trends over time, in terms of void properties.  Members expressed concerns that average void times appeared to be increasing and that this could negatively impact on access to housing in the private rented sector for those in need of suitable accommodation.

·             The timescales by which the data for quarter 4 of the 2025/26 financial year would be available for Members’ consideration.

·             The extent to which the void properties could be offered to people on the housing waiting list in Bromsgrove.  The Committee was informed that the void properties managed by Spadesbourne Homes Limited were unlikely to be affordable for people on the housing register.

The resolution was proposed by Councillor S. Baxter and seconded by Councillor P. Whittaker.

RESOLVED that the Performance Monitoring Report for Quarters 2 and 3 of the 2025/26 financial year be approved.