Housing Options Appraisal
Somerset Council is reviewing how its housing services are delivered, aiming to find the best model for customers and leaseholders across the county.
Introduction
Somerset Council is undertaking an independent review to identify how its housing management service should be delivered in future and what model best works for customers and leaseholders across the county.
The council currently owns around 10,000 homes across Somerset and manage this housing stock using two different models of housing management. This is as a result of bringing together the services of the former Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton District Councils, the only two district councils which owned housing stock in Somerset.
The current housing management services are split, with around 6,000 homes managed directly through an in-house team of staff at Somerset Council and around 4,000 homes managed by us, Homes in Somerset.
We are an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) which is owned by Somerset Council. We work on behalf of the council to provide housing management services to customers.
Why is Somerset Council carrying out an options appraisal
The appraisal or review is being undertaken to ensure that services are better aligned, provide a consistently good service and deliver best value for money for our customers and leaseholders.
An external consultant will undertake this piece of work, leading to a recommendation for a future delivery model.
What does the options appraisal mean for our customers
Customer and leaseholder rights will not be affected.
Somerset Council will continue to own customer and leaseholder properties, and your homes will continue to be repaired, maintained and invested in.
Customers and leaseholders will also continue to be supported by Housing Officers. There will be no change to rent or service charges beyond the normal annual review and increase.
This project is simply to move Somerset Council to a place where housing management services are delivered through one, rather than two different management models and the rights of our customers and leaseholders will remain unchanged.
Somerset Council is not looking to sell any homes as part of this process and will therefore remain your landlord regardless of how the service will be delivered in the future.
How will we keep customers and leaseholders informed
We will be engaging with our customers and leaseholders as part of this process, keeping you fully informed and giving you the opportunity to get involved and feedback on your thoughts, so that we understand what is important to you and to make sure your voice is heard.
We will also be sharing regular updates with you through the customer newsletter, here on our website, through our social media platforms and through other bespoke engagement as this important work progresses.
Latest news
Stay up to date with the latest news regarding the Housing Options Appraisal on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Somerset Council owns in excess of 10,000 homes, but currently operates via two models of housing management, with circa 6,000 homes managed in-house by Somerset Council and circa 4,000 homes managed by Homes in Somerset. The Options Appraisal is being carried out by an independent consultant to understand how the housing management services can be best aligned, offering consistency and best value for money to customers.
An arms-length management organisation (ALMO) is a not-for-profit body, wholly owned by its parent council, created to manage council-owned housing and deliver housing-related services adhering to a Management Agreement. An ALMO also has its own management team and is governed by a Board. Whereas an in-house housing model means services are directly managed within the council and is overseen by council committees.
Somerset Council owns in excess of 10,000 homes and operates via these two models of housing management after bringing together the services of the former Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton Councils, the only two district councils which owned housing stock in Somerset.
Of the 10,000 homes, Somerset Council currently manages circa 6,000 in-house and Homes in Somerset manages circa 4,000. Homes in Somerset is an ALMO which looks after houses and garages across the county on behalf of Somerset Council. It does not own any properties.
An Options Appraisal can be a lengthy process. We envisage a decision on the future of the housing management services will be made in early 2026. Customers are likely to be contacted by the independent consultant as part of the process between July-October 2025, to share their views. Following a decision, any customers who may experience a change to their housing management services will be contacted directly.
If anyone is concerned about the Options Appraisal, or has any questions, they can contact their service provider at any time.
Homes in Somerset customers can call 0800 585 360, email customer.services@homesinsomerset.org or visit our contact us page for more information.
Somerset Council tenants should contact their assigned housing officer or use the Contact my housing team form online.
No, the Options Appraisal is not being carried out as part of a cost-saving exercise. The decision to align the housing management services has been made to ensure Somerset Council and Homes in Somerset provide the best value for money, with customers receiving the same, consistent services across the county. Any efficiencies made as a result of this process would go directly back into the Housing Revenue Account, to be used to invest back into the housing management services.
No. Somerset Council will remain the legal landlord of your property no matter which management model is selected. The Options Appraisal is being carried out to understand how the housing management services can be best aligned, offering consistency and best value for money to customers. No houses will be sold as a result of the Options Appraisal.
No. The Options Appraisal is being carried out to understand how the housing management services can be best aligned, offering consistency and best value of money for customers. No houses will be sold as a result of the Options Appraisal.
Your legal rights as a tenant will remain unchanged and you will remain a tenant of Somerset Council. Your home remains secure so long as you comply with the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement.
The Options Appraisal will not trigger rent or service charge increases. There will be no change to your rent or services charges beyond the normal annual review and increase.
You will continue to pay your rent to Somerset Council, in the same way as you currently do.
During the Options Appraisal process, you can continue to raise a repair or contact your housing service provider in the same way as you currently do.
If your home is managed by Homes in Somerset, continue to use the Customer Portal, call 0800 585 360 or email customer.services@homesinsomerset.org.
If your home is managed by Somerset Council, continue to call 0300 123 2224 or visit Repair problem – report – Self Service.
This could change following the outcome of the Options Appraisal, however, all customers will be contacted directly if there is any change to their housing management services.
As part of the Options Appraisal, which will be carried out by an independent consultant, customers will be given the opportunity to share their views on what is important to them. Somerset Council and Homes in Somerset both encourage customers to have their say, so everyone’s views are considered during the final decision.
If you’d like to log your interest in sharing your views on the Options Appraisal, Homes in Somerset customers can contact us via emailing customer.services@homesinsomerset.org or calling 0800 585 360. Somerset Council tenants should contact their assigned housing officer.
Your rights as a leaseholder and the terms of any leasehold agreement we have with you for commercial premises will not be affected.
Somerset Council will continue to be responsible for your building during the Options Appraisal process, and any repairs and maintenance we are currently liable for will continue to be carried out in the same way.
The Options Appraisal will not trigger any changes to your rent or service charge payments, beyond the normal annual review and increase.