Regulator finds ‘serious failings’ at two more councils, bringing total to 18

The regulator also found “insufficient information to understand the diverse needs of its tenants”. 

The council had self-referred to the regulator on three separate occasions last year over some of the problems. 

Vicky McDermott, director of housing and communities at Newcastle City Council, said the C3 grade was “extremely disappointing” but “expected”. 

She pointed out that the RSH’s assessment was done last October, but said there had already been “a significant improvement in several areas highlighted”.

She added: “I would like to assure our residents that the safety and quality of our homes is our priority.”

She said the council will “continue to engage with and work closely with the regulator to rectify the gaps identified”.

Among the actions, the council has commissioned a contractor to carry out a stock condition survey of all properties, she said. 

Electrical safety tests have been carried out on around 90 per cent of all communal blocks and overdue repairs have reduced by 10 per cent, she added. A new repairs policy is also being launched.

At Nottingham City Council, following a planned inspection, the regulator found that around 40 per cent of homes had not been surveyed for at least 10 years. 

Nearly 1,000 disrepair cases were live and issues were found around “data integrity”. 

The RSH also found “weaknesses” in the council’s approach to capping gas supplies when access to homes for gas checks were restricted.

The council’s tenants are also not being “meaningfully involved in decision-making or able to challenge decisions”, the regulator said. 

Jay Hayes, executive member for housing and planning at Nottingham City Council, said the judgement was not a “surprise”. 

“We have been aware of the need to significantly improve our housing services since we brought the ALMO back in house,” he said. 

The council had “proactively engaged” with the regulator a year ago to share its improvement plans, he added.  

“Resident safety and the delivery of our housing services in line with tenant aspirations is a key priority, and we’re committed to making sure that the money we’re investing in addressing some of the failings in the report is spent where it will have the most impact,” Mr Hayes said. 

The council said it is making improvements, including investing £20m in frontline services and delivering a stock condition survey over the next 18 months. A dedicated team has also been established to tackle damp and mould. 

A new tenant-led ‘housing assurance board’ has also been set up to make recommendations, as well as an ‘executive housing oversight board’ consisting of residents and councillors, the council said. 

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

The regulator’s consumer standards, which were introduced last April, are aimed at protecting tenants and improving services. 

Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at the RSH, said it was “positive” that its planned inspections are bringing issues to light. 

But she added: “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.” 

Among the other authorities to have failed the standards are Brighton and Hove, Hackney, North Yorkshire, and Sheffield.

Last October, Newham Council in London became the first local authority to get the lowest grade of C4.