Eastwood MP slams Broxtowe Council after Government body highlights failings in social housing
Broxtowe Council has been criticised for failing to meet the Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) outcomes in the consumer standards.
The Broxtowe Alliance-led council has been given a C3 grading by the RSH after the Government body highlighted numerous concerns on its latest inspection on January 14.
The RSH found that there were ‘more than 3,000 overdue fire remedial actions’, there was a ‘lack of accurate and up to date information on tenants’ homes, including potential hazards’, there was a ‘lack of understanding of the diverse needs of all its tenants’ and that ‘improvements were needed in its engagement with tenants’.
The report has led to the council being fiercely criticised by Eastwood MP Juliet Campbell (Lab), who said the reports findings highlighted ‘serious failings’ on the council’s part.
Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at RSH, said: “Our programme of inspections, which hits the halfway point of its four-year cycle in April, is continuing to identify gaps in landlords’ information on homes and tenants.
“Landlords can improve services for tenants by taking a proactive approach to tackling these gaps.
"Without accurate, up-to-date information, it is impossible to make the right decisions or demonstrate that homes are safe, warm and decent.”
Reacting to the report’s findings, Ms Campbell said: “I am shocked by the RSH findings that Broxtowe Council have serious failings in delivering consumer standards in their social housing.
“It is appalling that Broxtowe Council was found to have more than 3,000 overdue fire remedial actions.
"Broxtowe’s council tenants deserve far better than this.”
“I have spoken to many Broxtowe constituents with complaints about the condition of council housing, a lack of communication from the council with council tenants and a persistent failure to address complaints about ASB.”
“Broxtowe Council must take urgent action to address the serious failings in their delivery of council housing.”
Responding to the RSH’s findings and Ms Campbell’s comments, Coun Vanessa Smith (Brox All), portfolio holder for housing at the council, said: “We welcome the regulator’s report and the feedback provided.
"When new legislation was introduced in 2023 as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, the council established a housing improvement board to identify and deliver improvements to ensure we are able to meet the new regulations.
"Following the inspection, the regulator’s findings will now enable us to build upon this work.
“Their report highlighted our constructive engagement and assurance that there is a commitment to improving outcomes for our residents.
"Our focus remains on delivering safe, high-quality homes for our residents, and we are committed to learning from the inspection and demonstrating progress.
"We will continue to work closely with the regulator as we continue to implement our improvement plans over the coming months.”