Bournemouth and Poole housing services merge into BCP Homes

Launched on Friday, July 1, tenants and leaseholders living in council housing across Bournemouth and Poole have seen their services merge into the single BCP Homes service.

More than three years since BCP Council formed, the latest change sees the previously separate housing services come together into one organisation meaning that all council housing in the BCP region area is now run by a single new team within the council.

Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) staff will transfer over and merge with BCP Council’s housing team – who will also move across into BCP Homes.

Residents previously using either Bournemouth’s housing service or PHP have been assured they will see little difference in the day-to-day running of services.

Seamus Doran, the new head of BCP Homes, said: “By bringing together our in-house team and PHP we can better plan and advance services across all BCP Council owned housing, delivering better value for money and building on good practice from each side. These changes will be implemented over the next 12-18 months and residents should start to see services gradually evolve over this time.

Council-owned Niles Court flats in Poole

“Importantly our new service will see the reinvigoration of resident engagement work and we will be providing new ways for tenants and leaseholders to get involved, have their say and help shape how our services should be delivered in the future.”

Councillor Karen Rampton, portfolio holder for people and homes, added: “BCP Homes sees us put residents right at the heart of housing management and delivery.

“This is a vigorous change in the vital behind-the-scenes work this service does. Whilst residents may not notice a day-to-day difference, they can be assured that this innovation means a more efficient and modern provision.”

The council owns approximately 9,500 properties and services for these are funded and managed through its Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

These properties deliver general need, sheltered and extra care homes, as well as some shared ownership properties. There are also a further 1,139 leasehold homes that fall within the management responsibility of the HRA.

There are no council owned properties in Christchurch as these were transferred to a Housing Association many years ago.