Circle Housing (CHMP) is the major social housing agency in Wimbledon and Merton, and a recent investigation has found that their repair contractor has to repay £170,000 for overcharging.
This is a shocking report. I have been complaining to CHMP about the quality and timeliness of repairs for over two years and it is now clear for all to see why there were so many problems.
It is appalling that it required an outside investigation to bring this to light and that a comprehensive procurement and contract management system was not in place.
Whilst I am pleased that Savills, who undertook the report, have concluded there was no fraud, it is frightening that any organisation can overcharge by such a degree, and equally frightening that CMPH had no checks in place to stop this happening. I am cautious about their statement that no leaseholders were affected and I will be following up this point.
Circle Housing have a huge job to do in restoring their credibility and the confidence held in them as an organisation. The recovered £170,000 should be spend on what it should have been in the first place, in upgrading local people’s homes and ensuring repairs are of the highest standard and provided more quickly.