The 拢12m contract starts in November 2012 and has the potential to be extended for a further two years at the end of the five-year contract term.
The contract was competitively tendered with Lovell chosen ahead of seven other contractors. Lovell is already working with the housing group through a separate contract providing gas repairs and servicing for Westcountry Housing, which began in November last year.
Tony Sharland, head of asset management at Westward鈥檚 subsidiary, Westcountry Housing, said: "Responsive repairs and maintenance is one of the vital services that we deliver to our customers, so our main priority was to ensure that the contractor we selected would provide a high standard of service and achieve value for money.
鈥淟ovell have demonstrated that they are dedicated to providing a high-quality, customer-focused service, and we look forward to continually meeting the needs and aspirations of our customers in partnership with them.鈥�
Lovell said it would offer local job and training opportunities and also run skills workshops in local schools and for long-term unemployed residents.
鈥淒elivering a lasting legacy in the communities where we work is also a key part of our approach and the creation of job and training opportunities will be integral to our work with Westward Housing Group,鈥� said Simon Medler, managing director of the national Lovell repairs and maintenance business.