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.
Cllr Una O’Halloran, leader of Islington Council, said: 'We take the Regulator of Social Housing’s judgement seriously and fully accept that improvement is needed. The findings highlight weaknesses in how we understand the condition of our homes and how we assure ourselves on safety data, and that is not good enough.
'This is not about a lack of commitment, but about systems and assurance that must be stronger. We had already begun an improvement programme before the inspection, and we are now accelerating that work, with clear accountability and close engagement with the regulator, to make sure residents have safe, decent and well-maintained homes.'
