South Lakes Housing (ALMO) Inspection
Rating: Good service | Excellent prospects for improvement
This service is offered free of charge, is a popular way of meeting the needs of South Lakes Housing's (SLH) less-able customers and has been funded through efficiencies. The idea originated from customers involved in market testing SLH's responsive and void repair services and was then developed by one of its service improvement groups, which included customers who had recently moved into new homes.
The multi-skilled operative who delivers the service is a member of the voids team so work can be efficiently scheduled around other duties. All new customers are reminded by telephone that the service is available to them and are offered two hour slots for small jobs associated with moving home which are not usually considered to be a landlord's responsibility but which customers sometimes struggle to do themselves. These have included, for example, putting up curtain rails, shelves and window boxes and fitting shower curtains. The free service has recently been extended to include existing customers and is proving particularly useful to older and disabled customers and to those who do not have access to the tools required.