The strategic housing services provided by Liverpool City Council are ‘fair’ with ‘promising’ prospects for improvement, according to an independent report released today by the Audit Commission.
On a scale from zero to three stars, the Audit Commission inspection team gave the Council a ‘fair’ one star rating. Housing is a priority and the Council is making progress in improving the choice available to local people.
Riza Yassin, Audit Commission Lead Housing Inspector in the north, said:
’Economic decline has left Liverpool with major housing challenges. With the assistance of the housing market renewal pathfinder, New Heartlands, the Council is addressing these, particularly in designated regeneration areas. However, more needs to be done to improve existing housing in the private sector, especially the private rented sector.’
Inspectors found the following strengths:
- Good progress in clearing obsolete and poor quality housing stock and improving the choice of new homes.
- A reduction in the level of empty homes.
- Housing related support is extending independence to more vulnerable people.
- The focus on prevention is reducing the level of homelessness.
There are some weaknesses that need to be addressed including:
- Poor housing conditions continue to exist, particularly in the private rented sector.
- Fuel poverty in the private sector is concerning, with higher proportions in the private rented sector.
- Around 400 landlords of houses of multiple occupancy are not licensed and few landlords are accredited.
- Disabled people who need adaptations in the private sector have to wait a long time for work to be completed.
To help the service improve, inspectors made a number of recommendations. These include:
- taking more action to improve homes in the private sector, particularly the private rented sector;
- making landlords more responsible for the condition and management of their properties; and
- continuing to reduce the high level of empty homes.
Copies of the report are available from Liverpool City Council or from the Audit Commission website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Notes to editors
- Liverpool is the most deprived local authority area in the country, in terms of ranking on multiple deprivations in 2007. Some 72.5 per cent of 434,900 population lives in the top 25 per cent most deprived areas. Over 30 per cent of households have one or more members in a special needs group, and 14 per cent of households have a member with a physical disability. Around 11.4 per cent of working age people are permanently sick or disabled. More than one in four households are in receipt of housing benefit. At 1 April 2010, there were 21,000 people and families waiting for social housing, of which 1,134 were living in overcrowded conditions.
- Liverpool has major housing challenges. Decades of economic decline historically resulted in outward migration leaving declining demand for property, particularly pre-1919 terraced property so prevalent in Liverpool. Over 78 per cent of the city's 214,756 properties are low value in Council Tax bands A and B, 35 per cent are pre-1919 terraced properties. A high 29 per cent of private sector housing is rented compared to an average of 15 per cent nationally.
- In March 2010 the Audit Commission assessed New Heartlands, the Merseyside Housing Market Renewal pathfinder, as performing strongly (the 'top’ mark).
- The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone. Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers.
- On 13 August 2010 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced that he plans to disband the Audit Commission. His intention is to have new arrangements in place for auditing England's public bodies by 2012/13.
For more details about the role of the Audit Commission visit www.audit-commission.gov.uk
For a copy of the full report or for further information please contact: David Rose, Regional Communications Manager - Northern on 0844 798 6654 or d-rose@audit-commission.gov.uk