Gateshead Council has received a C2 rating from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). This highly negative rating indicates that they have a long way to go in improving their housing services. Tenants are sounding the alarm on the erosion of social housing services placing lives at risk.
The RSH found numerous “serious concerns” in Gateshead Council’s housing delivery, leading to a determination that the council should take urgent steps to correct. While the council’s C2 grading is one level higher than that of Newcastle City Council, which was noted for having “serious failings,” there remains an urgent call for enhancements in Gateshead’s operations.
This grading comes at a critical time as tenants have reported ongoing issues with housing repairs, highlighting the importance of addressing these concerns swiftly. The local government area’s elected arm is the ultimate decision-making authority on social housing policy. To their credit, they heard the call for improvement after the RSH’s initial review.
Chris Buckley, a Labour councillor and member of the transport committee, said he was slightly hopeful about the future evaluation.
“We also fully agree with the regulator’s feedback on areas where we can and must do better.” – Chris Buckley
This recognition underlines the council’s determination to tackle the weaknesses they identified and improve their social housing services. The council is now tasked with developing a comprehensive plan to tackle the backlog of repairs and improve tenant satisfaction.
On top of these issues, the conditions of the actual housing units themselves have recently been called into question. One building, featuring a wooden canopy structure supported by dark grey pillars, includes outdoor amenities such as a patio, grass area, and wooden benches. These features all work in harmony to create the best community living. They’re unlikely, by themselves, to tackle the urgent maintenance issues and tenant grievances.
