National award recognition for SARH

A Stafford-based housing association has been recognised for the way its customers help to improve the services it delivers.

Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) scooped top honours in the Excellence in Inspection and Mystery Shopping category at an awards ceremony in Manchester for social landlords.

The accolade at the National Customer Scrutiny Inspection Awards recognised the hard work of volunteers who give up their time to identify ways SARH can improve its services and the way the housing association acts on their recommendations.

Chris Plant, Head of Housing Management at SARH, explained: “We have a team of eight volunteer inspectors drawn from across our customer base, and they spend a lot of time talking to fellow customers, visiting our properties and dealing with our staff as mystery customers. They also assess our services from a customer’s perspective, providing an insight to our processes from start to finish, and several of them have fulfilled this role for many years.

“The reports they produce are presented to the management team, and to date more than 90 per cent of their recommendations have been implemented.

“This award provides deserved national recognition for all their hard work.

The award was presented by former Deputy Housing Ombudsman Rafael Runco, and during his address he recognised how deeply embedded the Customer Inspectors project is within SARH

Karen Armitage, the housing association’s Chief Executive, added: “We are delighted at this latest award as we faced some stiff competition from other social landlords and local authorities from across the country

“As well as reflecting the hard work and dedication of the inspectors, it also recognises our commitment to listening to customers when it comes to providing affordable homes and building better communities.”