In a regulatory notice released today, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has identified deficiencies in meeting consumer standards by the London Borough of Lewisham (Lewisham Council).
After a self-referral, RSH investigated the council’s operations and found various issues concerning its housing and services. Despite conducting fire risk assessments for all relevant blocks, the council had over 5,000 overdue fire safety actions.
A great number of repairs were overdue, with nearly half of all repairs between April and December 2023. Additionally, the severity of damp and mold reports was not accurately assessed.
Regulator of Social Housing (Credits: Property Notify)
The council reported that more than 2,000 homes do not meet the Decent Homes Standard. It lacks comprehensive data for its tenants’ homes and is conducting a stock survey to understand their condition better. In response to RSH’s investigation, the council has developed an action plan to address these issues.
Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, emphasized the importance of social landlords providing high-quality homes and services supported by reliable data.
She noted Lewisham Council’s failure but acknowledged its self-referral and constructive engagement to rectify the situation. RSH will continue to monitor the council’s progress in addressing these issues.
