City landlord Midland Heart Housing Association given mixed report by inspectors

Jan 29 2010 by William Oliphant, Birmingham Mail

A BIRMINGHAM landlord has been criticised by a watchdog for failing to complete gas safety checks and repairs quickly enough.

Audit Comission inspectors said there were “a mixture of strengths and weaknesses” in a review of Midland Heart Housing Association.

The report showed that, although empty homes were being let more quickly and many new tenants are happy, the group’s performance on gas safety checks, completing repairs and rent arrears was weaker.

But inspectors said the association was making improvements in those areas.

Midland Heart is now required to provide the Audit Commission with a plan showing how it will implement reccommendations before it is assessed again later in the year.