Two local authorities, Castle Point Borough Council and North Kesteven District Council, have recently received consumer upgrades in the latest regulatory judgements issued by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). These improvements reflect progress in addressing previous shortcomings in tenant safety and housing standards.

Upgrades for Castle Point and North Kesteven

Castle Point Borough Council, based in Essex, has been upgraded from a C4 to a C3 consumer rating. This marks a significant step forward following a period of serious failings. Initially rated C3 in September 2024 due to issues with collecting and reporting Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs), Castle Point was downgraded to C4 in December 2024 after the RSH identified fundamental problems in delivering consumer standard outcomes.

The recent upgrade to C3 indicates that Castle Point has made notable improvements, particularly in tenant safety. However, the council still faces serious challenges and must continue to make significant improvements. The council has now demonstrated its ability to rectify previous issues, which it failed to do when rated C4.

To sustain progress, Castle Point must embed the changes fully within its housing service. This includes maintaining the necessary skills and expertise, ensuring effective oversight by councillors and senior leaders, and implementing robust data management systems to deliver services effectively.

North Kesteven’s Progress

North Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire has also seen an upgrade, moving from a C3 to a C2 consumer rating. This improvement follows the council’s enhanced understanding of the condition of its homes and compliance with the Decent Homes Standard, demonstrating better management of housing quality and tenant outcomes.

Other Notable Judgements

Alongside these local authority upgrades, several housing associations received their first consumer gradings. The Guinness Partnership Limited was awarded a C1 rating, indicating it is delivering consumer standard outcomes effectively, while Peabody Trust received a C2, reflecting some weaknesses in delivery. Both maintain their governance and financial viability grades.

City of York Council and Newlon Housing Trust also received initial consumer grades of C2, with Newlon’s governance and viability ratings remaining unchanged.

Additionally, Portus Supported Housing Limited received an interim regulatory judgement, highlighting serious failings in delivering the Rent Standard outcomes alongside governance and financial viability concerns. This organisation is actively engaging with the RSH to address these issues following a recent transfer of engagements.

Regulator’s Perspective

Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at the RSH, emphasised the importance of landlords having the capacity and skills to identify issues and implement credible action plans promptly. She stated, “Safety of tenants’ homes is our clear priority and where we identify serious failings, we expect landlords to act quickly to protect their tenants by prioritising the most urgent health and safety issues.”

Dodsworth also noted that while fundamental changes take time to embed, they offer landlords a vital opportunity to involve tenants and secure lasting improvements.

What this means for landlords

These regulatory updates underline the increasing scrutiny on social housing providers to maintain high standards of tenant safety and service delivery. Landlords should take note of the emphasis on robust data management, effective governance, and the need for timely, credible action plans to address failings.

For local authorities and housing associations alike, embedding improvements and maintaining consistent oversight are essential to meet evolving regulatory expectations. Engaging tenants throughout this process is also crucial to rebuild trust and ensure long-term success in delivering quality housing.

Source: Based on reporting from the Regulator of Social Housing

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