Council’s fire safety failures lead to regulatory action

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published a set of regulatory judgements which includes a serious finding against Harlow District Council for failing to meet the new consumer standards.

As a result, the RSH has given the landlord a C3 grade, indicating serious failings and a need for significant improvements.

RSH investigated Harlow Council after reviewing its Tenant Satisfaction Measure (TSM) results. The regulator concluded that the council had:

• Carried out fire risk assessments for only 20% of its 9,100 social housing homes
• More than 500 high-risk fire safety remedial actions are overdue
• A further 1,500 medium-risk actions are overdue – many of which are more than 12 months overdue.

‘Failed to meet fire safety requirements’

Kate Dodsworth, the chief of regulatory engagement at RSH, said: “It is unacceptable that Harlow Council has failed to meet fire safety requirements.

“Providing safe, decent homes for tenants begins with robust data, and this must include fire risk assessments for every home that needs one.”

She adds: “Our new proactive approach and expanded consumer remit is helping to bring issues to the surface earlier.

“We expect all providers to regularly review and evaluate their services to improve outcomes for tenants.”

Harlow Council has employed an external consultant to develop a detailed improvement plan as a priority, and RSH will be engaging with the landlord as it addresses these failings.

Ongoing regulatory activity

The RSH has also published a range of other judgements resulting from its ongoing regulatory activity, including seven programmed inspections and its first stability check for a for-profit provider.

Governance and financial viability remain cornerstones of RSH’s regulation of housing associations and other private registered providers.

Of the other social housing providers, the RSH has downgraded over governance concerns Calico Homes, Bolton at Home and Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association Limited.