Capita Software Services has completed the implementation of a choice-based lettings system involving Leicester City Council and 20 registered provider (RP) partners. The new service went live in April 2010 after a 10-month implementation, with the contract reported to be worth in excess of £128,000.
The CBL system is expected to make it easier for citizens to find the most appropriate accommodation and improve the transparency of the housing allocation process. The Capita system consolidates information on available housing from the council and all 20 RPs, removing the need for prospective tenants to search through 21 separate organisations. Access to the service is via the web, interactive voice response or SMS, with interactive kiosks planned throughout the city in future.
Martin Clewlow, head of services in housing, Leicester City Council, said, “By enabling us to work with all 20 RPs in the area, we are confident Capita will help to increase the system’s transparency so customers can clearly see what is available to them, leading to increased satisfaction.”
The contract with Capita will also allow Leicester City Council to streamline its interactions with the RPs who can now add their own properties to the CBL service, process their own offers and download their own reports through a dedicated web portal for RPs.
The portal will link into the housing application process to source information at various stages. These stages will include the allocation of tenant short-lists to appropriate staff members at the council and RPs after bidding on the properties has closed. The system can also bid for accommodation automatically on behalf of vulnerable people who may not have access to a computer or mobile phone.
