BOURNEMOUTH, Christchurch and Poole Council’s housing service, BCP Homes, has been awarded the highest possible grade for its services to tenants.

This was the first inspection of its kind for the council under the Regulator of Social Housing’s new consumer standards framework, reviewing services including safety, quality, tenancy standards and neighbourhood and community services.

BCP Council achieved the top rating of ‘C1’ – the highest of the four inspection outcome categories – placing it among only seven councils in England.

The regulator praised the council’s work on repairs, quality, housing management and safety across its 9,600 rented homes.

The report also highlighted the council’s engagement with residents to ensure their views are listened to and acted on.

It noted the council’s proactive approach to dealing with damp and mould, the assurance that homes are safe with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and regular checks and the delivery of a timely repairs service, with 94% of emergency and 82% of non-emergency repairs completed on time.

Improvements in tackling anti-social behaviour and the council’s commitment to fairness and respect were also recognised.

Cabinet member for housing and regulatory services Cllr Kieron Wilson said: “Our priority is to provide quality homes for our residents – not simply bricks and mortar.

“We are incredibly proud of this grading outcome… Which is testament to the hard-working team we have at BCP Homes who are genuinely passionate and work so hard every day to make sure our tenants receive a high level of service.

“This is of course a huge achievement; however, this should be seen as a very important milestone on a journey to deliver even more for our residents.”

Director of housing and public protection Kelly Deane added: “This is more than just a grade – it’s a strong reflection of our team’s determination to deliver safe and well-managed homes, with faster and more reliable services.

“We will build on this success and continue to listen and act on what tenants tell us is important to them.”

Residents also praised the service.

Roger Smithers, chair of the Residents Committee, said: “You are a person and not a number with BCP Homes. It is very well organised. All you have to do is speak up and they will help you. Our feedback is listened to and affects change.”