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.
Aligning our services: Independent consultant appointed
We are pleased to announce that after a rigorous selection process, Savills has been appointed as the external independent consultant tasked with undertaking a review of the current model, which includes engaging with our customers and providing a recommendation for a future delivery model.
Planning and review work is already underway, as is detailed engagement work to ensure that you, our customers, tenants and leaseholders are kept regularly and meaningfully informed and have opportunities to get involved and feedback on your views.
Steve Partridge, Head of Affordable Housing Consultancy at Savills commented:
We are delighted to be working with Somerset Council and Homes in Somerset on this project. We will objectively evaluate the current housing delivery models and identify the most effective and resilient approach to delivering Somerset’s housing services moving forwards.
Our priority is to ensure that the voices of customers are at the heart of this options appraisal process and that the outcome is set up to meet tenants’ and leaseholders’ current and future needs. We look forward to engaging with tenants, leaseholders and staff over the coming months.
Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Executive Lead Member for Communities, HRA, Culture, Equality and Diversity and Co-optee of the Homes in Somerset Board added:
We are very pleased to have the team at Savills on board and look forward to working with them to ensure we deliver the best possible housing management service for our customers, tenants and leaseholders – through one fit for purpose housing model. Vital to this will be engagement with our customers, tenants and leaseholders to understand their needs both now and into the future.
We will, of course, continue to share regular updates through our newsletter, on our website, through our social media platforms and other bespoke engagement, as this important work progresses.
It is anticipated that a recommendation for a future housing management delivery model will be made in early 2026.
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.
