The focus was the whole property process, from early access and repairs through to allocation, sign-up and how progress is measured. 

A new incentivised early access pilot has been approved and is due to begin in Falkirk in early July. Early access allows repairs and inspection teams to assess a property, and in some cases begin work, before a tenancy formally ends. Tenants who take part will be offered a one-week rent credit and help to dispose of bulky items.

The aim is to reduce the gap between one tenancy ending and the next beginning, by giving teams more time to plan work, order materials and prepare homes before keys are handed back.

The Board also received the completed review of the void standard, which sets out the condition a home must reach before it can be let. The updated standard is written in plain language and includes several practical changes for tenants to improve on the quality of homes.

Clearer descriptions will help teams carry out only the work that is required. The standard is now being finalised on the back of comments from the Board.  It will be shared with employees and briefings will be provided to support the implementation.  It will also be issued to tenants and councillors 

Alongside these changes, attention is turning to how properties move through the whole process, not just the time spent at each stage. A snapshot in May showed that, of homes marked ready to let, some were still taking time to reach sign-up, with delay often sitting between stages rather than in the work itself.

Teams are now reviewing live cases and improving how properties are matched and advertised, so homes move more quickly from completion to occupation.

Utility issues are another common hold-up, including delays waiting for meter appointments. A new group has been set up to look at how these can be managed more consistently, with options being developed over the rest of the year. 

A new digital system for electrical safety checks (EICR) is now in place. It removes paperwork and releases properties for inspection at regular intervals, supporting work to bring properties back within the five-year cycle and reduce future delays.  A similar process will now be considered for gas safety checks.

Emergency repairs accounted for 36% of all repairs in April and May. The Board noted this as part of a wider positive reduction in the proportion of repairs reported as emergencies.

A new cyclical programme focusing on the external fabric of homes began in June, covering around 1,600 properties across areas of the authority.  

Tenants also now receive a text to confirm when a repair is booked, and other digital enhancements are being considered for tenants. 

The Board considered a new core set of indicators to track demand, how quickly homes are let, tenancy sustainment and rent lost.  The Board will monitor these at each meeting to inform the transformation programme. The latest financial reporting showed the programme remains on a stable footing, with this year's budgets on track. 

Work on staff communications and training is also progressing. Draft guidance has been developed to keep letters, webpages and reports clear and consistent, and plans are being developed to provide everyone involved in housing with customer service training. 

Staff can keep up with updates on the Housing Transformation web page and Viva Engage channel. The Board's next meeting takes place on 26 August.