Introduction
Somerset Council is undertaking an independent review to identify how its housing management service should be delivered in future and what model best works for tenants and leaseholders across the county.
We currently own around 10,000 homes in Somerset and manage this housing stock using two different models of housing management. This is as a result of bringing together the services of the former Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton District Councils, the only two district councils which owned housing stock in Somerset.
The current housing management services are split, with around 6,000 homes managed directly through an in-house team of staff at Somerset Council and around 4,000 homes managed by Homes in Somerset.
Homes in Somerset is an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) which is owned by Somerset Council and works on behalf of the council to provide housing management services to customers.
Why we are carrying out an options appraisal
The appraisal or review is being undertaken to ensure that services are better aligned, provide a consistently good service and deliver best value for money for our tenants and leaseholders.
An external consultant will be appointed to undertake this piece of work, which will begin in July 2025, leading to a recommendation for a future delivery model.
What the options appraisal means for our customers
Tenant and leaseholder rights will not be affected.
Somerset Council will continue to own tenant and leaseholder properties, and their homes will continue to be repaired, maintained and invested in.
Tenants and leaseholders will also continue to be supported by housing officers. There will be no change to rent or services charges beyond the normal annual review and increase.
This project is simply to move us to a place where housing management services are delivered through one, rather than two different management models and the rights of our tenants and leaseholders will remain unchanged.
Somerset Council is not looking to sell any homes as part of this process and will therefore remain your landlord regardless of how the service will be delivered in the future.
How we will keep tenants and leaseholders informed
We will be engaging with our tenants and leaseholders as part of this process, keeping them fully informed and giving them the opportunity to get involved and feedback on their thoughts, so that we understand what is important to them and to make sure their voice is heard.
We will also be sharing regular updates with them through the Tenants newsletter, here on our website, through our social media platforms and through other bespoke engagement as this important work progresses.
