Housing firm faces review after hundreds of complaints
Lancashire Hill is one housing estate managed by Stockport Homes
- Published
A firm subject to hundreds of complaints over the way it manages thousands council houses is set to be reviewed.
Stockport Homes has faced criticism for not completing repairs quickly enough and its approach to rehouse tenants, with 279 complaints filed in the last year according an annual report.
The provider has said it will engage with an upcoming independent review of the borough's social housing commissioned by Stockport Council.
A company spokesman said an increase in complaints is not "unexpected" within the context of increasing demand for housing.
'Politically active area'
The review, which is set to cost the council about £100,000, is set to begin in the autumn, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
According to Stockport Homes’ annual report, there were 279 initial complaints from customers in the 2023-24 financial year, with 51 escalated due to an unsatisfactory response from the company.
The company manages thousands of properties around the wider area, including the Lancashire Hill estate where tenants recently complained about broken doors, fly tipping, and drug dealing.
Stockport Homes’ annual report was scrutinised by councillors at a meeting on 1 July.
Martin Saunders, who works for the housing firm, said most complaints were about repairs, with enquiries about rehousing mainly coming from MPs and councillors.
“Stockport is quite a politically active area, councillors and the MP are very present, so customers are happy to take issues to them which is probably a positive thing," he said.
A company spokesman said customers were "always listened to and provided with comprehensive feedback on their complaint".
“All social landlords are required to report how many complaints are received to the housing regulator on an annual basis, enabling comparisons to be made across the sector," he said.
Stockport Homes' received the lowest number of initial complaints based on the number of properties managed than other providers in Greater Manchester, the spokesman added.