It has dropped the old system of having two specialist contractors for most tenants, separately covering gas and general repairs.

From April, council tenants will have repairs, maintenance, gas servicing and home improvements provided by one contractor – either Keepmoat, Wates Living Space or Willmott Dixon.

Birmingham’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Management and Homes, Cllr John Cotton, said: “As the old contracts came to an end we had a chance to take a fresh look at the services provided to our tenants and create a simpler process.

“The new contracts will also see some massive savings which will be ploughed back in to our housing services.”