Regulator uncovers ‘serious failings’ in council house standards in Nottingham

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Council housing in Lenton Abbey (NCC)

By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

A regulator says there are “serious failings” in the management and quality of Nottingham’s council homes after it uncovered almost 1,000 repair problems with properties.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), the independent body responsible for checking council housing, says problems also include gaps in checks on smoke and carbon monoxide detection measures.

Tenants are not being properly involved in decisions, the regulator adds.

It follows new consumer standards – which all social housing providers including local councils had to meet from April 2024.

In October the RSH inspected Nottingham City Council’s housing as part of work to check landlords were meeting these new rules.

Following the inspection the council, which brought its housing services back under its control in 2023, was given the second-worst rating by the regulator.

The inspection report says there was a lack of accurate, up-to-date data of its housing quality and decency, while almost 40 per cent of Nottingham council homes had not been surveyed for more than ten years.

There are almost 1,000 live cases of repairs or checks needed, “which is a significant driver of complaints, and issues around data integrity”, the regulator said.

The regulator further found weaknesses in the council’s approach to capping gas supplies when it could not gain access to complete gas safety checks, and monitoring of compliance with smoke and carbon monoxide detection rules, while tenants were not being meaningfully involved in decision making or able to challenge decisions.

Cllr Jay Hayes (Lab), executive member for housing and planning at the council, said the judgement did not come as a surprise.

“We do not take the RSH’s findings lightly,” he said. “Clearly there is much work to do, and we will not shy away from doing it.

“We prioritise building safety and compliance, and it’s good to note this had a reasonable level of assurance noted.

“Everyone deserves to live in a safe, secure, affordable and decent home, and we are committed to engaging positively with the regulator and with our residents to deliver what is needed.

“Improvement of our housing services is part of the council’s wider Improvement Plan. with a clear commitment to deliver improved and well-run services for all our residents.”

The council says it is currently in the process of undertaking a full condition survey of all 25,000 council homes, while £20m is being invested in frontline services to improve how they operate.

A dedicated team to address problems with damp and mould and clear the repairs backlog is also being set up.

The regulator can award four consumer standards grades, C1, C2, C3 and C4.

C1, the highest grade, means the landlord is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, while C4, the lowest grade, is given when there are very serious failings which the landlord must make “fundamental changes so that improved outcomes are delivered”. Nottingham City Council has been given C3.

Kate Dodsworth, the regulator’s chief of regulatory engagement, said: “Having an effective repairs service and keeping accurate data are both vital for keeping tenants safe in their homes, especially when it comes to serious issues such as fire safety as well as damp and mould.

“It is positive that our planned inspections continue to bring issues to light earlier than they might otherwise. However, it is essential that landlords self-refer to us. As well as being a requirement in our standards, it shows us that they understand their responsibilities and take accountability.”

The arms-length management organisation Nottingham City Homes (NCH) is now directly managed by the Labour-run authority.

It was wound up in April 2023 after it emerged millions of pounds in rent payers’ money from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was unlawfully diverted to the council general fund.

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