Housing
The Audit Commission's work in housing
From 2000 to 2011 we helped local authorities, arm's length management organisations (ALMOs) and housing associations improve their services through our audit, inspection and research functions. We undertook 1,400 housing inspections, including 180 Supporting People inspections, and published more than 20 national studies on housing.
We started inspecting local authority housing services in 2000, under the Local Government Act 1999. From 2003, we were also responsible for inspecting housing associations in England.
In April 2010, the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) began commissioning inspections of landlord services for both local authorities and housing associations under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008.
Between 2000 and 2011 the Commission had responsibility for inspections of local authorities' strategic housing functions, including homelessness services, and private sector functions.
The housing national studies programme ended in 2011. It was designed to improve local public services through its independent authoritative analysis of national evidence and local practice.
As well as scoring and reporting on housing services, we identified and promoted positive practice through inspections. Every inspection looked for examples of positive practice and innovation, creative ways of overcoming barriers and resistance to change, and ways of making better use of resources.
Examples of positive practice found between 2006 and 2011 can be found in our
compendium of housing good practice.
From 2003 until 2009, the Audit Commission carried out a programme of inspections of all 150 Administering Local Authorities (ALA) which were responsible for the Supporting People grant and associated programme at that time. The work was led by the Audit Commission and inspections were carried out with the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).
Between 2003 and 2011, Housing Market Renewal (HMR) operated as a dedicated national programme, tackling the problem of declining demand for housing in parts of the Midlands and the North of England. The programme aimed to deliver change on a large scale, working across areas with weak housing markets, irrespective of local authority boundaries.
The Audit Commission carried out reviews and performance monitoring of the HMR pathfinders, providing critical challenge to partners and independent analysis of programme delivery. This work enhanced the application of Housing Market Renewal locally, and helped to inform policy debate and decisions on area-based physical regeneration nationally.