Control over council housing in Waltham Forest looks set to be taken back in-house, spelling the end of Ascham Homes' role in the borough. 

Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Khevyn Limbajee, has confirmed that he will recommend that the arrangement with the arms length management organisation, which has managed housing on behalf of the council since 2003, should end. 

The final decision will be made by cabinet on June 23. 

Cllr Limbajee told Inside Housing: “The decision hasn’t yet been made, but the appraisal’s been done and there’s a huge amount of excitement about bringing housing back in-house. 

“It would allow us to redesign the housing service, integrate our systems, and marry it up with our digital agenda.” 

Mr Limbajee said the move will reduce administration costs and lead to more “cohesive services”. 

The potential savings forecast is yet to be finalised, but Mr Limbajee said he is confident the move would save Waltham Forest "at least a million a year, [but] it could be a lot more". 

Ascham Homes has had a chequered history in Waltham Forest. 

The organisation has twice been bailed out by the council when it was on the brink of financial collapse, resulting in it receiving at least £7.6million from the taxpayer. 

It has recently fallen well below its targets for dealing with tenants' complaints and carrying out repairs. 

The council has been asked to comment.