Since coming to power in 2022, Labour has been working hard to deliver a bold and ambitious transformation of our Housing Service because we knew it had not been delivering the standards of service our residents rightly expected. At the heart of this has been the Housing Improvement Programme to tackle the long-standing challenges in repairs, building safety, and capital works.
This work has confirmed what residents and Labour Councillors have known for almost a decade- that the Conservatives’ 2017 decision to lock the Council into massive 10-year contracts for Repairs, Major Works, and Mechanical & Electrical works did not work and the arrangements are no longer fit for purpose. Despite improvements in contract management under Labour, these massive contracts have not delivered the standards of service and value for money that our residents need.
These 10-year Term Partnering Contracts (TPC) come to an end in 2027. Recommissioning these contracts offers a crucial opportunity to get things right to help deliver a new, people-centred service model focused on resident satisfaction, high-quality services, and delivering value for money. If Labour is re-elected in May 2026, the Council will move away from long-term contracts to ensure better contract management and put residents more firmly at the heart of the service.
After extensive engagement with residents and market testing, we are proposing a new strategic partnership model that reflects the Labour administration’s commitment to improving service outcomes whilst delivering greater fairness, accountability, and community empowerment.
The proposed new ‘Strategic Alliance’ Framework will include:
- Shorter Contracts – this will ensure we can hold providers to higher standards and respond more quickly if performance falls short.
- A greater range of contractors will ensure healthy competition, drive up quality, and give the Council more options to match the right contractor to the right job.
- Job specifications for repairs will be set by the Council, rather than left solely to contractors. This will ensure work is clearly defined, properly costed, and more aligned with what residents actually want and need.
- Creation of a permanent in-house handyperson service through the Direct Labour Organisation (DLO)will give the Council direct control over everyday repairs, allowing for efficiency in repairs.
Councillor Liza Begum, Cabinet Member for Housing Services, said,
“Under the Conservatives, Westminster’s housing service was failing residents — neglected, unaccountable, and out of touch. Labour is changing that. Since 2022, we’ve put residents back at the heart of decision-making, raised standards, and brought in real accountability. Our new Strategic Alliance Framework will end the outdated contracts, bring in better providers, have more oversight and deliver a more responsive housing service that Westminster residents deserve.”