The London Borough of Islington has been given a C3 grade by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) following an inspection that identified serious failings in the management of its housing stock.
RSH found that the council does not have an accurate understanding of the condition of tenants' homes, with most surveys carried out more than 10 years ago and without a formal Housing Health and Safety Rating System assessment. As a result, the council cannot provide assurance that its properties meet the Decent Homes Standard.
Inspectors also found limited assurance on the accuracy of health and safety compliance data and identified more than 1,000 overdue lift remedial actions – though the council reported these did not pose critical safety risks or require lifts to be taken out of service.
On a more positive note, RSH found that the council treats tenants with fairness and respect and uses their feedback to shape services.
Islington Council has been engaging constructively with the regulator, acknowledges the issues identified and is taking steps to address them, according to the RSH.
