New repairs service launched for Birmingham council tenants

A new repairs service for Birmingham City Council tenants and leaseholders went live on 1 July, promising easier reporting, clearer updates and more flexible appointments.

The service was designed using feedback from tenants, who told the council they wanted repairs to be easier to report and better communicated.

What changes

• A new digital repairs process to make reporting simpler.
• Clearer information about upcoming work, timescales and any changes.
• More freedom to rearrange appointments.
• New technology to track the condition of council homes and help make them warmer and cheaper to heat.

Three contractors

Day-to-day repairs are now carried out by three contractors: Equans in the east of the city, WPS in the north and south, and Mears in the centre and west. They will also support the council's investment of more than £200m a year in its homes, which delivered 35,000 upgrades to 6,000 council homes over the past year.

"Improving our council homes and the service we provide to our tenants is a top priority for us," said Councillor Baber Baz, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness.