What we do
The Housing Inspectorate looks at how local authorities provide landlord services to communities; work with the private sector; respond to the problems of homelessness; and enable the provision of good quality housing services. The landlord services provided by arms length management organisations (ALMOs) and, in conjunction with the Tenant Services Authority, housing associations (otherwise known as registered social landlords, RSLs). We are also leading the inspection of administering local authorities in the supporting people programme, these inspections are carried out with the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the HM Inspectorate of Probation.
In July 1998 the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) confirmed the creation of a Housing Inspectorate, in a paper on the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review of Housing and Regeneration. The Housing Inspectorate is now part of the Audit Commission.
From April 2003 the Housing Inspectorate assumed responsibility for inspecting registered social landlords (also known as housing associations) in England. We have agreed with the Housing Corporation, now the Tenancy Services Authority, protocols setting out our respective roles and responsibilities. More details, including the documents detailing these roles and responsibilities, can be found in Housing association inspection.
The Housing Inspectorate is working with every local housing authority in England and housing associations with more than 1000 properties. The role of the Inspectorate is to look at how local authorities and housing associations:
- provide direct services as a landlords;
- fulfil their roles in the private sector within the local housing market;
- respond to those who are homeless or are threatened by homelessness; and
- enable good quality housing and housing services to be provided by others, to support the housing needs of their community.
These posts are based in the regional centres of Leeds (Northern Region), Leicester (Central Region), Bristol (Southern Region) and London.
Housing inspectorate involvement in CPA
Comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) is a key element of the government's performance framework for local government. It supports improvement planning in local authorities and leads to coordinated and proportionate audit and inspection and increased freedoms and flexibilities for local government.
The Audit Commission's role in CPA is to form a judgement on the performance and proven corporate capacity of every council in England.
CPA for single tier and county councils
CPA for district councils