Tenants in Barking and Dagenham’s affordable homes can report maintenance problems and ask for repairs with a new app.

Barking and Dagenham Council-owned housing service Reside is now working with digital repairs and property management platform EVO to oversee the management and delivery of repairs and contractors.

Users will be able to report issues and start the repairs process with the push of a button on the EVO app, which tracks the status of the problem.

Reside and EVO hope the high-tech solution will improve tenants' experience in arranging repairs and help them spot trends and plan.

Steven Rae, chief executive of EVO, said: “We are really pleased to be working with such a forward-thinking organisation such as Reside.

“They share our goals of improving the quality of affordable accommodation, whilst building their future strategy around the well-being and happiness of their residents.

“[This] will put Reside in a great position moving forward and shows what commitment they have towards their residents.”

Cllr Saima Ashraf, deputy leader and cabinet member for community leadership and engagement, said: “It’s so important we have good quality homes for our residents and it’s equally important to ensure the maintenance services that come with these homes, such as reporting housing repairs, are accessible and hassle-free.”

A spokesperson said property service history from the use of the EVO app will be used by Reside to “make better more pro-active long-term decisions [and] to predict future needs and plan and budget accordingly”.

Michael Westbrook, chief executive of B&D Reside, said: “It’s essential that we provide a positive resident experience, and the digitisation of the repairs process is key to that, especially as our tenants are in employment and need an efficient repairs process that works around their job.

“EVO’s technology also allows us to gather data that will help us to continue to improve customer experience whilst predicting trends and ultimately budgeting more accurately.”

The collaboration is part of the borough's regeneration programme.