Kirklees Together

On Tuesday 24 March cabinet received an update on the performance of its Homes and Neighbourhoods service.

The report highlights improvements in repairs, neighbourhood services, tenant communication and home safety, and also sets out the remaining areas where improvement plans are in place to further strengthen services for tenants. 

Over the past year, the council has focused on stabilising services and improving the experience tenants have when accessing housing support. Sustained progress can be seen in rising tenant satisfaction and improvements in key services such as repairs and damp and mould response. 

One of the biggest changes has been the move to a neighbourhood-led housing model. This approach places housing officers closer to the communities they serve, improving visibility and helping teams respond more quickly to local issues. The council is also establishing a new specialist team focused on tackling antisocial behaviour this spring, reflecting feedback from tenants who said this was an area where they wanted to see stronger action. 

Repairs performance has also improved. The council completed more than 88,000 repairs to its homes last year and has seen steady improvements in the number of repairs completed on time. Work to address damp, mould and condensation has continued to make significant progress, with cases falling from more than 2,000 to fewer than 480. A level now considered normal for a housing service of this size.  

Improving communication with tenants is an ongoing priority for the service. Kirklees have recently introduced a redesigned council housing website to make it easier for tenants to access information and request services, alongside a new tenant newsletter sharing regular updates on repairs, safety and neighbourhood news. 

Alongside improvements to day-to-day services, the council has also begun delivering a major investment programme in its housing stock. Following Cabinet approval in January 2026, a £390 million programme is now underway to upgrade existing council homes and support the building of new ones. 

This includes £264 million to improve current properties and £126 million to support new housing development. A full programme of property surveys is also underway to ensure future investment decisions are based on accurate and up-to-date information about the condition of council homes.  

While progress has been made, the report also recognises that there are still areas where further improvement is needed.

Tenant feedback shows that complaints handling, antisocial behaviour and the maintenance of communal areas remain key areas where the council needs to continue to develop further. Work is already underway to improve complaint investigations, strengthen communication with tenants and increase the support available to manage neighbourhood issues. 

The service also remains under a regulatory notice linked to historic concerns around damp, mould and fire safety. Although progress has been made in reducing damp and mould cases and completing fire risk assessments, further fire safety work across some buildings remains a priority.  

David Shepherd, Executive Director for Place, said: 

“Over the past year we have focused on stabilising the service and strengthening the experience our tenants have with us day to day. 

“We have maintained progress in areas such as repairs, damp and mould response and tenant communication, and we are continuing to build a stronger neighbourhood-based service so we can support our communities even better in the months ahead.  

“At the same time, we know there is still more to do. Improving complaints handling, tackling antisocial behaviour and completing our fire safety programme remain key priorities. 

“Our long-term investment programme and service improvements are about making sure our tenants have safe homes, reliable services and neighbourhoods they can be proud of. We’re confident that the steps we’re taking now will continue to make a positive difference for our communities.” 

Cabinet members were asked to note the progress made and the continued improvement work planned across the Homes and Neighbourhoods service.

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