BUSINESS

Kent councils take back control of housing stock

Four councils in east Kent have taken back control of housing management services.

Four councils in east Kent have taken back control of housing management services.

Canterbury City Council, and Dover, Folkestone & Hythe and Thanet DCs have now taken over the services and most staff provided by East Kent Housing (EKH).

The move was taken after a series of health and safety failings were discovered at some of the properties that EKH was managing on behalf of the councils last year.

In a joint statement, the four councils said: 'All four councils are determined to put the needs of tenants and leaseholders at the heart of the four housing services that have been established as evidenced by the creation of an extra 70 frontline posts.

'We want them to see real improvements to the service they receive and the way their homes are managed.

'We realise this is not a magic wand and it will not solve every problem overnight.

'This incredibly complex project is just the start of the journey and there is a lot of hard work ahead of us.'

BUSINESS

Top Talent: Regeneration and Growth

02 July 2025

As part of our regular series on ‘rising stars’, we celebrate the regeneration and growth officers who have been nominated by their councils for having an im...

BUSINESS

Raw politics is back on the menu

By Jonathan Werran | 02 May 2025

Jonathan Werran, chief executive of Localis, considers the fallout from the local election results.

BUSINESS

When it comes to new unitaries, is big really better?

By Peter Holt | 10 March 2025

Official data gathered by Uttlesford DC for the District Councils’ Network undermines the Government’s argument for large unitary authorities, says Peter Holt

BUSINESS

Lack of asylum funding snag for reorganisation

By Joe Lepper | 20 February 2025

Funding for asylum seeker support has emerged as a sticking point in Kent’s reorganisation plans.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman