Council reprimanded for social housing failures

A council in Nottinghamshire has been reprimanded by a government watchdog over the management of its social housing stock.

The Regulator of Social Housing said Broxtowe Borough Council "failed to meet the outcomes" in the consumer standards which included more than 3,000 overdue repairs and upgrades relating to fire safety.

The council has been given a C3 rating, which means there are "serious failings" and "significant improvement" is needed.

Broxtowe councillor Vanessa Smith said the authority was "committed to learning from the inspection and demonstrating progress".

The inspection found there was a "lack of accurate and up to date information" on tenants' homes, including potential hazards, as well as a "lack of understanding of the diverse needs of all its tenants".

The regulator also said the council needed to make improvements in how it communicates with their tenants.

However, the regulator said the authority "has been engaging constructively and has demonstrated an understanding of the issues and a willingness to resolve them".

Smith, cabinet member for housing, said the council welcomed the report and the feedback.

"When new legislation was introduced in 2023, the council established a Housing Improvement Board to identify and deliver improvements to ensure we are able to meet the new regulations," she said.

"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."

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.