Housing inspections aimed to be a catalyst for change. They informed the public about performance and contributed directly to local, regional and national policy debates. We produced detailed inspection reports with short and easy-to-read summaries. Our inspections:
- searched for and supported excellence while challenging poor performance;
- focused on outcomes, not just processes;
- were on the record and in the public domain;
- worked across local government and housing to encourage a learning environment; and
- were open, approachable and in touch with service providers.
Above all, our role was to help housing organisations to provide high-quality services, within their available resources, in response to the aspirations of their service users and their wider communities.
We carried out inspections using published key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) and descriptors that informed our judgements.
Our corporate approach to inspection is set out in our Compendium of inspection policy and practice.
Following the introduction of Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) in April 2009, we consulted on a revised inspection framework in January 2010.
Short-notice inspections
During 2008, the Commission launched new, short-notice inspections. We initially developed these to encourage improvements in the performance of housing associations (HAs) in delivering services to their tenants and leaseholders. They focused on the outcomes for residents and worked on the basis that HAs would concentrate on improving services rather than preparing for an inspection, which could happen at any time.
In December 2009 the Audit Commission Board agreed that short-notice inspections of local authorities and ALMOs could be undertaken in appropriate circumstances, as part of any future work programme commissioned by the Tenant Services Authority. This followed a pilot programme of SNIs of local authority housing services and arm’s length management organisations (ALMOs) between March to July 2009. These were to be undertaken using the same methodology as for housing associations.