0:02 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago 8
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A London council has issued an apology to its tenants after receiving the lowest possible rating from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).
Newham Council admitted it “let tenants down” after a series of failures, including that 40% of its 16,000 homes hadn’t undergone an electrical safety check in more than 11 years.
The RSH gave Newham Council its first-ever C4 rating, the lowest possible grade.
Inspectors from the RSH reveal that 20% of Newham Council’s properties failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard.
Inspectors also discovered 9,000 overdue fire safety remedial actions, with more than 8,000 delayed by more than 12 months and more than 4,000 classified as high risk.
Other failings included a lack of evidence that Newham Council’s properties are meeting the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements.
The RSH also revealed a lack of accurate information on stock quality, with 60% of Newham Council’s homes lacking a survey within the last five years.
Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at RSH, said: “The breadth and scale of these failings, including very serious health and safety issues, pose an unacceptable risk to tenants’ well-being.
“Taking accountability is a critical part of the co-regulatory approach and it is extremely concerning that, despite the gravity of these failings, the landlord failed to refer themselves to us over key issues.
“We are now engaging intensively with Newham council as they work to resolve these issues. While we are not proposing to use our enforcement powers at this stage, this will be kept under review.”
In a statement, Newham Council says they have put an improvement plan in place and have written to tenants who have not had an electrical installation inspection for more than ten years to offer appointments, and put in place additional resources to fast-track this work.
The council has also put plans in place to complete all overdue remedial fire risk actions.
Abi Gbago, Newham’s chief executive, said: “We take our responsibilities as a landlord very seriously. And we accept that we have let our tenants down in the areas outlined by the Regulator.
“We unequivocally accept all the recommendations in the report. They will be addressed in the programme of improvement already well underway.
“We can and must do better for our tenants. We have long been prioritising actions aimed at keeping residents safe, making many improvements even since the inspectors visited us in May.
“In line with our culture of openness and transparency, we welcomed the inspector’s review of how well we are delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, providing them with opportunities to meet tenants, officers and councillors.”
JeggNegg
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Sign Up10:53 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
AI suggests:
In legal terms, a “working person” generally refers to an individual who is engaged in paid employment or work to earn an income. This definition can vary depending on the specific context, such as tax law, labor law, or social security.
1. Employment Status: A working person is typically employed under a contract of service or a similar work arrangement. This includes employees, contractors, freelancers, and self-employed individuals.
2. Income Generation: A working person earns money from their job or business, distinguishing them from individuals not engaged in income-generating activities, like retirees or students.
3. Full-time, Part-time, or Casual: Legal definitions usually cover all types of employment statuses, including full-time, part-time, or casual work.
In the UK, the term “worker” has a specific legal definition, covering anyone who performs work or services for another party, with some degree of control by that party over how the work is done. This includes employees as well as certain contractors.
Maybe landlords need to place all properties in a Ltd co. And have an employment contract.
I am retired so I guess I will be taxed more?
Marcus
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Sign Up10:56 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
Weren’t Newham one of the first councils to implement a licensing scheme? Shame they couldn’t apply the rules to themselves!
Lordship
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Sign Up11:11 AM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
Should massive fines not be issued to said council?
Stella
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Sign Up12:15 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
Newham were one of the councils that took part in a BBC series with Matt Allwright. I think it was called the enforcers.
As usual Allwright did not let a good story get in the way of the facts and Newham inspectors made early morning visits to HMOs and took landlord to task.
Now they have problems of their own.
Martin Thomas
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Sign Up12:27 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
40% of 16,000 dwellings not had an electrical certificate in 11 years = 6,400 rent repayment orders?
Vibha Spal
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Sign Up13:05 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
Taking full accountability for ensuring a tenants get to rent legally safe, with all legislated work carried out and a continuous maintenance carried out during the term of the tenancy is a landlord's responsibility and the council's staff (not an invisible body). This is more than a full time job.
The fact that councils have not kept up with their responsibilities and liabilities by working does not mean that the landlords working on their responsibilities and liabilities need to be classed as not working for their income. Even in retirement, landlords are at back and call of the tenants 24/7, like changing batteries for smoke alarms, light bulbs, gardening, trimming plants and cleaning etc.
For peace of my mind, landlords do they n around to do various work. This saves money for the tenants as they are supposed to change batteries and light bulbs and keeping gardens clean for their own enjoyment.
Darren Peters
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Sign Up13:37 PM, 25th October 2024, About 2 days ago
Reply to the comment left by Martin Thomas at 25/10/2024 - 12:27
No apparently you can just issue an apology and say something about a plan in management speak and it’s all better again.
I guess this is who Starmer is thinking of when he thinks landlords don’t do any work. :/
DAMIEN RAFFERTY
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Sign Up3:46 AM, 26th October 2024, About 23 hours ago
Now there is no way that Newham council will be able to get 6,000+ new EICR done and passed as safe in the next 12/24 months so !
Maybe one of the No Win No Fee solicitors will call at every property in Newham and sign up hundreds if not thousands of Hard Working Tenants to sue the council and ask for Not One years Rent Repayment Order but TWO years under the new RRB.
Bankrupt Council me thinks 🤔