'Fairer' housing services promised to Islington residents

Housing is probably the biggest issue for most residents of densely-populated Islington, and improving affordable accommodation for all has long been a priority of Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn. Now, leasholders and tenants in Islington have some potentially good news in the form of a new council pledge to make housing fairer. Read on to find out what's changing.

A key part of the plan, introduced by the new Labour-led council, is to bring more maintenance work in-house, introduce tougher monitoring and a strict four year deadline for repairs on council homes will all feature as part of a fairer deal for Islington residents.

Homes for Islington (HFI), the council's own housing partner will now handle contracts for essential services like gas, repairs and maintenancs;  jobs that used to be farmed out to various contactors. It is hope that this will make it more straightforward for residents to get assistance when they need it.The new contacts will run till 2014.

In addtioned to the proposed streamlining of services, the Council has pledged to build 'hundreds' of new homes in the borough. Islington has one of the highest proportions of residents in social housing, with over a thousand on the waiting list.

Despite creating additional homes, the Council as said that the changes should save at least £1m a year for Islington. Does this sound to you like money well spend?

[source: egov monitor]