A troubled city council that dropped out of a government funding programme last September because of its poor performance has managed to raise the quality of its housing services.
Salford, which devolved management to an arm's-length manager, New Prospect Housing, won one star in an Audit Commission inspection released on Tuesday. Before the inspection, it had no stars.

To apply for the £53m it needs to bring its 30,000 homes up to the decent homes standard, the council will have to rejoin the ALMO scheme and win two stars.

The Audit Commission believes this is unlikely but acting New Prospect chief executive Colin Mayhead said: "There is no doubt that we can get to a two-star level. We are on our way."

  • Mercian Housing Association provides a satisfactory service to tenants, according to an Audit Commission inspection report published yesterday.

    The association owns about 2500 homes for rent and 1000 low-cost homeownership properties in the West Midlands.

    • Source

    Housing Today