Agenda item

The Director of Housing Management & Enforcement presented the report to the Group.

The Council was one of the first to be inspected under the new inspection regime and had received a C2 Grading (C1 the highest achievable, C4 the lowest).

The Council had met with the Regulator on 7 occasions since inspection, with the next meeting on 4^th February 2026.

A comprehensive Improvement Plan (attached at Appendix 1) summarised the standards, detailed the Regulatory Judgement with regards to each Standard, and provided an overview of the work accomplished.

Work being met (or would be met in the following months) included:

·       Stock Condition Survey (the Council needed to ensure access was gained to the properties not yet accessed / surveyed.  A  report would be provided to Council to approve officer posts / associated salary costs to deliver an in-house rolling programme of future surveys);

·       Decency (the Council needed to use the Savills and subsequent Stock Condition Survey data sets to drive capital programmes.  The Council would then use these to update the Housing Revenue Account 30-year business plan – to be devised in conjunction with the Finance Team);

·       Tenant Profile information (the Council needed to ensure it knew all its tenants to tailor available services around their needs.  At present the Council had been seeking to update all key information held on tenants / occupants and had been analysing the data currently obtained);

·       Information about Landlord Services (to ensure tenants were being provided essential information to hold the Council to account, the Council was providing its performance data.  The Council was also reviewing the tenancy sign-up pack and developing a Tenant Portal to allow tenants easier access to their rent account and repairs records).

It was noted the Council was achieving additional work on top of what was required to achieve the C1 Grading.

The Stock Condition Survey would be finalised and presented to Council at its March 2026 meeting.

The Tenant Profile information would allow the Council to make any / all adjustments available / possible.

The Revised Rent Collection Policy was approved by Executive the day before the Committee.

Progress was being made and a meeting with the Regulator the following week would provide essential feedback and guidance before the Council would apply for reassessment to achieve the C1 Grading.

The Board was informed that for the previous Woburn House, Blackwell, due to the relocation of its tenants to demolish and redevelop the unit, assessments were not carried out (they were not needed but remained included in the data).

As for tenants denying access for essential safety checks, some had refused outright, others could not get the time from work to allow entry, and other properties were void and so awaiting refurbishment / turnover.

For properties where access had remained difficult, the Council could seek possession / injunction to ensure mandatory safety checks were carried out.

The education of tenants on the importance of these checks was ongoing, but the enforcement of safety checks would take place when required.

In answer to a question on the reassessment to achieve a C1 Grading, the Council knew it had only really required the Stock Condition Survey and Tenant Census be completed.

It was also noted, even when no comment was received, the Council would regardless carry out work in its constant drive to provide better services.

In question to the number of tenants completing the Tenant Census, 1,300 had completed by October 2025 and this had risen to 1,900 in December 2025.  While the Council would pursue close to 100% completion (if possible with available staff resources), if clear and well defined trends had emerged at 70% completion, the Council could confidently show this evidence to the Regulator.

To a question on asking tenants to complete the census during site visits / repairs, the Board was informed staff resources and UK GDPR prevented this.

Property information was also the only information available on site employees’ devices.

The Board was informed the Tenant Census had been provided to tenants along with the Stock Condition Survey when these were delivered.

The Board theorised why some tenants might always simply refuse to complete the Tenant Census (e.g. they were satisfied with the services provided, they might have felt uncomfortable in providing the requested information, etc.).

It was imperative that if the Council knew of any / all tenant vulnerabilities, it could tailor its services accordingly.

RESOLVED that members of the Board note comments of the Improvement Plan.