INSPECTION REPORT PUBLISHED
Last year, Communities Scotland carried out a comprehensive Inspection of Langstane Housing Association, and also its non charitable subsidiary, Langstane (S.P.) Housing Association. Both Inspections were delivered by a team of Inspectors visiting the offices in Aberdeen at the end of November 2004.
The report on Langstane (S.P.) was published some time ago. As it is classified as a small Association, no gradings were awarded, although the Association has now submitted an Improvement Plan to Communities Scotland, addressing the relatively minor points made in the Report.
At the end of September 2005, the final Report on Langstane Housing Association was published. The Report was a mixed bag, clearly acknowledging the Association's many strengths in Property Management, which resulted in a B grading being awarded, as well as its general good governance and financial strength. Langstane was, however, deeply disappointed to be given a D grading for Housing Management, indicating that the Inspectors thought the Association's performance was poor, despite praising many aspects of its activities in Neighbourhood Management, Arrears Control, and its attempts to develop tenant participation. The Inspectors had concerns, however, about the way they considered the Association managed its waiting list, and allocated its housing.
The Langstane Chairman, Paul Hannan said, "We remain very disappointed by the grading given to Housing Management ,as we still feel that the position is misunderstood, and the grading does not fairly reflect the quality of the service we provide. Nonetheless, we shall address the Inspectors concerns in a positive and professional manner, in order to seek to improve still further the quality of the work we do".
Langstane is now required to produce an Improvement Plan to respond to the issues highlighted in the Inspection Report. The full text of the report is available on this Web Site, please click here to see the report,the summary may be obtained from:
The Chief Executive
Langstane Housing Association
680 King Street
ABERDEEN
AB24 1SL.
A copy of the Improvement Plan will be lodged on the Web Site when it is agreed with Communities Scotland in due course.
