MSV has retained its G1 and V2 grades and has been awarded a C2 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) following its inspection earlier this year.
Landlords are given a grading of between 1 and 4 in the three key areas of Governance, Viability and Consumer Standards.
MSV was pleased to receive feedback that strong governance remains in place and there are a wide range of meaningful opportunities for customers to share their views and provide scrutiny, treating customers with fairness and respect. The RSH also commented that MSV had been able to evidence sustained improvements in repairs and complaints handling.
With customer safety as the number one priority, MSV welcomed comments that they could provide evidence-based assurance of ensuring the health and safety of customers and the work to ensure 100 per cent compliance.
The RSH judged that MSV remains financially viable, with increased investment in existing homes, with the need for careful management of the business plan.
The RSH also judged that positive progress overall has been made with meeting the new consumer standards, however more progress needs to be made with the pre-planned stock condition survey programme which is already in place. MSV has prioritised bringing the information held about the condition of its homes up to date, having gained access to 65% of homes in the past two years. This supplements previously held survey data which is less than six years old - MSV has in place externally conducted first hand condition surveys for 92% of its homes. The rolling programme of condition surveys remains on site and MSV will complete the refresh of its property data by the end of the year.
Charlie Norman, MSV’s Chief Executive, said:
“The inspection process including new consumer standards is so important in ensuring quality homes and respectful services for social housing customers.
“We very much welcomed working with the inspection team and the positive feedback we received on customer safety, governance, financial viability, customer voice and meeting so many of the expectations set out within the new consumer standards. It is important to continue to focus on this.
“We are also focussed on achieving the targets required with our stock condition survey programme, and we recognise that sound data-driven decision making is vital. We currently hold first-hand stock condition data for 92% of our customers’ homes within the last 6 years, 65% of this within the last 2 years. We are confident we will meet the targets in place with our planned programme of inspections.
“MSV is investing significantly in customers’ homes with almost £70m set to be spent over the next five years on improvements and decarbonisation work. This is the right thing to do as we look to provide even higher quality, warmer and more affordable homes for customers.
“We are pleased to have retained the G1 and V2 gradings which demonstrate compliant governance and financial stability, and we will continue to work with our customers to design and provide truly inclusive services that meet all regulatory expectations, including the consumer standards .”
Read the full judgement about MSV on the Gov.uk website
