Savills appointed to conduct independent review of housing management services

In May, we advised that Somerset Council would be carrying out a Housing Options Appraisal to align its housing management services across the county and enable us to deliver the best possible service to our tenants and leaseholders now, and into the future.

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 at Homes in Somerset.  We are an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) which is owned by Somerset Council and works on behalf of the council to provide housing management services to customers.

We also advised that as part of this work, Somerset Council would be undertaking an independent review to identify how a better aligned, consistent and best value service could be delivered, and that an external consultant would be appointed to undertake this.

We are now pleased to announce that after a rigorous selection process, Savills has been appointed as the external independent consultant, tasked with undertaking a review of the current model – which includes engaging with you, our customers – and providing a recommendation for a future delivery model. Planning and review work is already underway, as is detailed engagement work to ensure that you, our customers, tenants and leaseholders are kept regularly and meaningfully informed and have opportunities to get involved and provide feedback on your views.

“We are delighted to be working with Somerset Council and Homes in Somerset on this project. We will objectively evaluate the current housing delivery models and identify the most effective and resilient approach to delivering Somerset’s housing services moving forwards.

Our priority is to ensure that the voices of customers are at the heart of this options appraisal process and that the outcome is set up to meet tenants’ and leaseholders’ current and future needs. We look forward to engaging with tenants, leaseholders and staff over the coming months.”

Steve Partridge, Head of Affordable Housing Consultancy at Savills

“We are very pleased to have the team at Savills on board and look forward to working with them to ensure we deliver the best possible housing management service for our customers, tenants and leaseholders – through one fit for purpose housing model. Vital to this will be engagement with our customers, tenants and leaseholders to understand their needs both now and into the future.

We will, of course, continue to share regular updates through our newsletter, on our website, through our social media platforms and other bespoke engagement, as this important work progresses.”

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Executive Lead Member for Communities, HRA, Culture, Equality and Diversity and Co-optee of the Homes in Somerset Board

We will continue to share regular updates with you through our newsletter, on our website, through our social media platforms and other bespoke engagement, as this important work progresses. It is anticipated that a recommendation for a future housing management delivery model will be made in early 2026.

This project is simply to move us to a place where housing management services are delivered through one, rather than two different management models and your rights as a customer will remain unchanged.

Somerset Council will continue to own your properties, and your homes will continue to be repaired, maintained and invested in. You will also continue to be supported by housing officers.  There will be no change to your rent or service charges beyond the normal annual review and increase.

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.

We have also published some Frequently Asked Questions, which are available on our website.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, Homes in Somerset customers can contact our Customer Services Team.