Guildford Borough Council has become the first local authority in England to upgrade from a C3 to a C1 under new social housing standards, the Regulator of Social Housing has announced.
The council moved from a C3 rating, indicating serious failings, to a C1 grade following improvements to its housing services. The upgrade follows the introduction of new consumer standards in April 2024.
Guildford had originally been downgraded in July 2024 after referring itself to the regulator over concerns linked to safety, quality, and accountability.
After implementing an agreed improvement plan and undergoing inspection, the regulator said the authority now meets required standards and has systems in place to identify and address issues effectively.
Joint Chief Executive Officer at Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council, Pedro Wrobel, said: ‘This C1 rating is the result of extraordinarily hard work by our landlord services team, wider staff and partners, and I pay tribute to them for their commitment, professionalism and dedication.
‘I'm incredibly proud of them, and it's fantastic to see their work recognised in this way demonstrating just how far we've come. I'm hugely grateful to the Regulator for their support and challenge ensuring we get things right.’
