London boroughs issue report on going beyond statutory and regulatory housing responsibilities, admitting there is “more they must do”

The London Housing Directors’ Group, with support from London Councils, has issued a report setting out best practice principles on how boroughs can go beyond their statutory and regulatory responsibilities to deliver the “highest possible housing standards”.

The group said the report was a tool to assist councils in delivering high-performing landlord services.

The report, Delivering for Tenants: The Foundations of an Effective Local Authority Landlord Service, proposes five key themes for supporting an effective local authority landlord service: vision and strategy; leadership; management; performance and compliance; and assurance.

The report acknowledges instances of poor practice and the challenges facing the social housing sector.

It reiterates London boroughs’ commitment to ensuring tenants are listened to and services respond “efficiently and effectively” to their needs.

According to London Councils, there are 717,000 social rented homes in London – accounting for almost 20% of the capital’s 3,671,000 homes. London boroughs own around 390,000 of those social homes, with the rest being owned by housing associations.

Research for London Councils has suggested that tenant satisfaction levels in London are lower than the rest of the country.

The capital accounts for 19% of England’s social housing stock, but between April 2019 and March 2021, 57% of all damp and mould maladministration cases reported by the Housing Ombudsman were in London (across all types of social housing provider), said London Councils.

Boroughs highlight that a key factor driving these figures is the “poor state of London’s social housing stock”.

London Councils noted that housing in the capital is “generally older than elsewhere in the country; there is a higher proportion of flats, which makes maintenance more complex; and London’s severe housing pressures mean the capital has higher rates of overcrowding”.

The report points to the impact of worsening resource pressures. It highlights that London local authorities’ Housing Revenue Accounts are forecast to be almost £600m worse off over the next five years as a result of the 7% rent cap introduced by government on the social housing sector in 2023-24.

London Councils said that even within this “hugely difficult context”, boroughs recognise there is more they must do to deliver high standards, to ensure tenants’ voices are heard and acted upon, and to co-ordinate their landlord services with the council’s wider strategic objectives for their local communities.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “Boroughs are proud social landlords. Social housing is a vital part of London’s infrastructure that provides affordable homes for hundreds of thousands of Londoners.

“However, the social housing sector is under massive pressure. Too often we have seen examples of tenants living in poor-quality housing and receiving a substandard service. Our tenants deserve better. Everyone should have a home that they can be proud of. This report will help us make that ambition a reality and I am grateful to everyone – especially tenants – who contributed to putting it together.

“When it comes to deciding the future of social housing in London, national policy and investment decisions remain fundamental factors. Boroughs will continue to work with ministers on this important agenda and push for the funding required to support our shared goals.”

Joanne Drew, Co-Chair of the London Housing Directors’ Group, said: “No one can doubt the huge challenges facing social housing in the capital, but boroughs are working with each other and tenants to try and drive up standards. Our homes and tenant services must be good quality, and our relationship with tenants needs to be positive and built on partnership.

“As housing leaders in the capital, we’ve taken the chance to reflect and identify a way forward. Delivering for Tenants sets out our shared vision of how we can be most effective as council landlords. We are committed to continue listening, learning, and adapting as we raise standards and seek better outcomes for Londoners.”   

London Councils represents London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London. To mark the launch of Delivering for Tenants it will be hosting an online event tomorrow afternoon (13 April).

Lottie Winson