Housing Futures
This means that from 1 October, services like repairs and grounds maintenance are the responsibility of the Council.
The aim of bringing housing management back into the Council is to improve it for residents by providing a more joined-up service, linking housing and other Council services that residents rely on.
Why has this happened?
The move follows a survey of residents, in which 71% of respondents said they supported the proposal, 6% disagreed and 23% said they didn’t know. Bringing management services in-house is something Lewisham, like councils across the country, considered for a number of reasons.
When Lewisham Homes was set up, housing companies were able to claim extra grants that councils could not, but this funding is no longer available. Following the Grenfell fire tragedy, new regulations are now in force which the Council is legally responsible for fulfilling.
What are the changes for tenants and leaseholders?
There will not be any changes to tenants’ and leaseholders’ rights and rent levels and service charges will continue to be reviewed annually. Staff officially started working for the Council on Monday 2 October in the new Housing directorate, led by Executive Director for Housing, Gillian Douglas.
Lewisham Homes email addresses will still work and will be redirected to new Council addresses. Information about repairs, contact details and other housing issues can be found on the Council’s website - lewisham.gov.uk. Lewisham Homes’ social media channels will remain active, under the name Lewisham Council Housing Services. Staff uniforms and existing signage will be changed to Council branding as and when they need replacing, in order to minimise costs and reduce waste.
What happens to teams at Lewisham Homes?
Teams across Lewisham Homes moved across to the Council and continue to deliver housing services.
Frequently Asked Questions
| When did the transfer happen? | The transfer took place on Sunday 1 October 2023. |
| What has happened to Lewisham Homes staff? | Lewisham Homes staff have now become Council employees on their existing terms and conditions under TUPE. TUPE stands for Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) and these regulations protect an employee’s when they transfer to a new employer. |
| I’m a tenant/leaseholder – do I need to do anything? | No. Please continue to access services as you do now. We will write to update you if we need to, but you do not need to take any action. The change has not affected your tenancy or leasehold agreement. |
| What changes will I notice? | The transfer doesn’t affect the service you receive. We think this change presents an opportunity to improve services. During the consultation, tenants and leaseholders told us about some of their concerns and priorities. We want to build on that, and we’ll continue those discussions with residents and staff to develop our ‘tenants and leaseholders’ charter’ – our pledge to you about how we will improve services. |
| How was the decision made? | The transfer doesn’t affect the service you receive. We think this change presents an opportunity to improve services. During the consultation, tenants and leaseholders told us about some of their concerns and priorities. We want to build on that, and we’ll continue those discussions with residents and staff to develop our ‘tenants and leaseholders’ charter’ – our pledge to you about how we will improve services. In the summer of 2022 the Council consulted tenants and leaseholders about a proposal to bring the services provided by Lewisham Homes under the direct control of the Council. The results of the consultation were considered, along with other factors – including financial factors and scope for service improvements - by the Council’s decision-making body, The Mayor and Cabinet, at a meeting on Wednesday 8 December 2022. At that meeting they agreed to go ahead with proposals to return housing management services to the Council. The decision was also scrutinised by the Council’s Housing Select Committee. |
| What was the result of the consultation? | Over the summer of 2022, we consulted tenants and leaseholders. We worked with an independent research company to send a paper copy of the survey to everyone, helped people to complete it in person and carried out telephone surveys to make sure the responses accurately reflected our tenants and leaseholders. A total of 21% responded, which is higher than average for similar consultations held elsewhere. 71% of respondents told us they support the proposal, 6% disagreed and 23% said they ‘don’t know’. You can read more about the consultation as part of the Mayor and Cabinet report. |
| What’s changed since the agreement with Lewisham Homes was signed? | When Lewisham Homes was established in 2007, additional funds were available for ALMOs (Arm’s Length Management Organisations) to apply for. There are no longer any financial incentives for ALMOs. The Government is also bringing in new legislation and regulations which set out the responsibilities the Council has as landlord for the service provided to tenants and their safety, which cannot be transferred to Lewisham Homes. |
| Have other councils brought their ALMOs in house? | The number of ALMOs has been reducing and only a handful of London still have them. |
| Have the changes affected rent levels and tenancy agreements? | No, these will continue to be set by the Council in the same way they were before the transfer. Tenancy agreements are with the Council and will not change. |
| Now that the service has been brought back to the Council, how will the views of tenants and leaseholders be heard? | The Council wants to ensure that tenants and leaseholders are involved in how their homes are managed. Alternative arrangements will be developed to replace the Lewisham Homes Board to ensure good engagement with the Council. |