The local authority itself owns almost 6,000 homes. The recent report, which found “serious failings” in the way they run social housing, has brought them painfully and publicly into the spotlight. The Regulator of Social Housing’s findings reveal limited engagement with tenants regarding building safety, prompting concerns about the authority’s commitment to tenant welfare. Even though the authority is legally compliant in all respects, the authority admits to requiring substantial improvement of its own practices.
Councillor Robert Stedmond, who is responsible for housing issues at the council, makes the case for the need to involve tenants. “Our aim is to put our tenants back at the heart of our service, engaging with them and listening to them to do much better and delivering the standards they deserve,” he stated. To repair and strengthen its relationship with tenants, the authority understands the importance of making tenant voices felt on the issues that affect their living conditions.
In reaction to the audit, the city council has started new steps to increase oversight and control over where homes are awarded. The Regulator of Social Housing noted that the authority has “recently put in place more effective controls and oversight for allocations.” This is a big step in the right direction. It takes the challenges surfaced in our report head on and helps create a more transparent, equitable, and accountable environment for housing.
The authority’s lack of meaningful outreach to tenants about safety in the buildings is alarming enough. Though legally compliant, the lack of a proactive approach to tenant outreach and education is clear. The council hopes to use the inspection results to inform improvements and increase tenant satisfaction across the board.
