Audit Commission

Organisations undergoing housing inspections by the Audit Commission are being encouraged to find innovative ways of responding to the key lines of enquiry (KLOEs). The current documents set out both the questions being considered by inspectors and descriptors of what inspectors are looking for from organisations providing a 'fair' or 'excellent' service.

The Commission is changing the presentation of the KLOEs by making suggestions to help organisations carry out research and find their own routes to providing excellent services.

Roy Irwin, Chief Inspector of Housing at the Audit Commission, said:
'KLOEs are widely recognised as useful tools which have helped organisations to improve their services and we update them regularly to make them as relevant and as user friendly as possible. The descriptors have been useful benchmarks but now service providers should be addressing key questions from their own perspective rather than relying on the descriptors. Responding to feedback from consultation, these changes have been made to clarify that the descriptors are not the only answers. We are also keen that housing organisations should be more open to learning from the innovative ideas of other organisations which are highlighted on the notable practice part of our website.'

Significant changes to the housing KLOEs include:

• KLOEs which relate to linked services will be grouped together;
• the documents will be restructured to emphasise the focus on the questions and the role of the descriptors as supporting information not a checklist; and
• the restructured KLOEs will include links to websites with examples of notable practice and related guidance and service standards.

As part of the ongoing six-monthly reviews, the Commission has also consulted on the two housing KLOEs relating to allocations and lettings and homelessness and housing needs. The updated Homelessness and Housing Advice KLOE will be published by the end of September.

Notes to editors

1. The housing KLOEs can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/housing
2. The Audit Commission is an independent body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively, to achieve high quality local services for the public. Our remit covers around 11,000 bodies in England, which between them spend more than £180 billion of public money each year. Our work covers local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services.
3. As an independent watchdog, we provide important information on the quality of public services. As a driving force for improvement in those services, we provide practical recommendations and spread best practice. As an independent auditor, we ensure that public services are good value for money and that public money is properly spent.