A new digital-first repairs service promising clearer updates and greater flexibility has gone live for Birmingham City Council tenants and leaseholders.

The revamped offer, which launched today (1 July), aims to be more helpful, flexible and responsive. A new digitised reporting journey is designed to make it easier to raise repairs while improving communication and overall tenant satisfaction.

Residents can expect clearer information about planned works, timeframes and any changes, along with more freedom to rearrange appointments when necessary.

New technology and systems will be rolled out to monitor the condition of council homes, helping to make properties warmer and more sustainable to heat. The approach is intended to deliver better value for money for both the council and tenants.

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Day-to-day repairs will be delivered by three contractors under the new arrangements: Equans will cover homes in the east of Birmingham, WPS will operate in the north and south, and Mears will manage the central and west of the city.

These contractors will work closely with the council to support investment of more than £200m a year, ensuring council homes continue to meet the right standards in the long term.

Over the past year, the investment programme has delivered 35,000 upgrades across 6,000 council homes. As this programme continues, the new repairs service will coordinate closely to minimise disruption for residents.

Cllr Baber Baz, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: "The new modern service will ensure tenants are getting the quality of service our tenants rightly expect and deserve.

"We have used extensive tenant feedback to establish this new service. They have been clear with us that they want a service that is easier to use, more flexible, and provides clearer communication and updates on the repairs they report.

"Improving our council homes and the service we provide to our tenants is a top priority for us. It's why we are investing more £200m a year in our council homes so that they meet the right standards now, and in the future. These new contracts will ensure we keep the pace of that investment so all our tenants and leaseholders are living in warm, safe and sustainable homes."