HALTON’S biggest landlord has teamed up with other social housing providers to share best practice and experience around repairs.

The Chartered Institute for Housing has established a 12 month project ‘Working Together…Repairs’ for housing associations to identify ways to improve.

Halton Housing Trust, which owns 6,400 homes in Runcorn and Widnes, has already introduced changes such as reducing the time for properties to be left empty from 42 days to 15.

The trust meets with housing associations across the country once a month to share information.

John Maddox, trust maintenance manager said: ‘It has been a great benefit joining the group. It has raised the profile of the trust and put us on the map.

“We had already made some significant changes to our repairs service and it was great to share that, but also an eye opener as to how other registered providers manages their repairs service.

We have made some great contacts which will continue after the duration of the working group.”

Karen Baildon, trust director of construction services, said: ‘Working Together has helped us ensure that the right strategies, tools and practical approaches are in place to maximise our ability to provide an efficient and effective repairs service, which in turn will have a huge benefit to our customers.

“We have already seen a benefit by introducing technology and mobile working to our repairs service which gives our maintenance technicians the ability to work more efficiently and effectively.”