The firm will deliver a borough-wide cyclical planned maintenance programme worth £10m annually for three years.

Work starts in March and will see an army of painters deliver external and communal decorative repairs and redecorations for more than 7,500 homes.

Mitie’s deal includes maintenance of the external fabric and fixtures of the buildings, such as windows, doors, roofs, walkways, external walls and cladding.

Works to communal areas also include the testing and repair or replacement of electrical installations.

Mitie will invest in the community, working with the council to create local employment opportunities, including hiring up to 10 apprentices and two resident liaison officers.