The Regulator of Social Housing has found that three councils have failed to meet its consumer standards.
Runnymede Borough Council received a C4 rating due to very serious failings in how the local authority is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, while both City of London Corporation and Rugby Borough Council received C3 gradings following inspections.
Runnymede Borough Council made a self-referral to the RSH in June 2025, prior to inspection, after it had identified issues relating to rent setting.
The RSH’s investigation identified issues in several other areas.
Runnymede BC had carried out surveys of 58% of its homes since 2021, but only 30% had a full stock condition survey.
The RSH also found evidence of inadequate monitoring and reporting of hazards in tenants’ homes, with almost 250 previously unknown hazards identified as a direct result of the RSH’s inspection.
The investigation found no evidence that Runnymede BC was checking the accuracy and integrity of data for required health and safety checks and actions, and that there was a lack of understanding of the diverse needs of its tenants and very serious failings of taking tenants’ views into account in decision-making and service delivery.
The RSH said that, although Runnymede BC indicated a willingness to address these very serious failings, it has not seen evidence that it fully understands the potential risks to tenants.
The RSH also found serious failings in Runnymede BC’s approach to rent setting for some homes, although the council has developed an improvement plan and is working to address this serious failure.
At the City of London Corporation, the RSH identified serious failings in delivering the outcomes of the Safety and Quality Standard, which had been self-referred prior to the inspection.
The report highlighted large numbers of outstanding remedial actions arising from electrical safety checks, as well as over 1,000 overdue fire safety actions, some of which are high risk and have been overdue for over a year.
The report also found that 18% of homes do not meet the Decent Homes Standard and, based on current plans the Decent Homes Standard, will not be met in all homes until 2035.
At Rugby Borough Council, the RSH found serious failings in meeting its consumer standards and reported that significant improvement is needed to comply with the Safety and Quality Standard and Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.
Prior to the inspection, Rugby BC made a self-referral to RSH after a third-party assessment highlighted issues relating to the accuracy of repairs information.
The RSH found that Rugby BC had commissioned stock condition surveys for 86% of its homes, but only holds partial data, so it cannot fully analyse the results.
It reported that 99.54% of homes meet the Decent Homes Standard, though this has not been verified against the survey information.
The council had also identified 800 homes with Electrical Installation Condition Reports over five years old, and 600 homes without a smoke alarm.
The RSH says that each of the local authorities is engaging constructively with the regulator to address the failings and weaknesses identified.
Elsewhere, Willow Tree Housing Partnership Limited has received an upgraded consumer grade of C2, and confirmed governance grade of G2 and financial viability grade of V2. This is the first time a housing association has moved up from a C3 to a C2 grade.
Christian Action (Enfield) Housing Association (CAHA) Limited was also upgraded to from G3/V3 to G2/V2 for governance and viability as a result of the landlord improvement plan it agreed with RSH.
Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at RSH, said: “Our inspections continue to highlight significant gaps in some landlords’ understanding of tenants and their homes, reinforcing the need for accurate, up‑to‑date information to ensure safe, decent housing.”
“We will continue to hold landlords to account, and drive continuous improvement, to ensure tenants live in good quality homes and receive effective services.”
