Basildon Borough Council in Essex has voted to set up its own company to manage home repairs for around 12,000 tenants after admitting that current service levels are not good enough. The decision, made by the cabinet on 25 March 2026, will see the local authority create a Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo) for maintenance work to ensure faster and more reliable results for residents.
Basildon Borough Council plans to end its ten-year partnership with Morgan Sindall Property Services when the current contract expires on 30 June 2026. A year-long transition period will begin this summer, with the new council-owned company expected to fully launch on 1 July 2027.
During the handover period, the council will introduce a dedicated resident liaison team and extra surveyors to help clear the current backlog of outstanding repairs. This move follows a report from the Housing Ombudsman which previously found failings in how the council handled complaints about issues like damp and mould.
Deputy Leader Cllr Adele Brown told the meeting that housing repairs have not been good enough for too long and that the new model will focus on using local tradespeople. Residents will also be given a direct say in how the new service is designed to ensure it meets the needs of the community.
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