Key welfare reform changes such as HB underoccupation criteria are due to come into effect in less than 18 months. Here we set out some key tips to help organisations and their customer’s prepare for and survive the changes.
(Updated 25/11/11)

In the Audit Commission era, all landlords felt compelled to benchmark their costs and performance, for fear that Inspectors would criticise them on lack of knowledge or learning from higher performing services at lower costs elsewhere.

After what may have felt like a brief respite following the demise of audit commission inspections, the TSA recently found they could not account for more than a third of operating cost variations between landlords, and have indicated they will be looking to challenge organisation’s who may be failing to discharge responsibilities on value for money - as part of a stronger focus on proactive economic regulation.

It’s this time of year when the majority of landlords are either busy number crunching data for their benchmarking clubs or receiving results and pondering what to do with them. But is benchmarking, as lean system thinkers would advocate the 'fastest route to mediocrity',  or the route to excellence?