The South London council self-referred to the Regulator of Social Housing late last year, citing concerns about potential breaches of consumer standards, in particular regarding repairs and fire safety.
Lewisham Council has reported that in the last year, 24% of its homes failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard, representing a seven percentage point increase from the previously reported figure. This is higher than the average, with just over 10% of social landlords’ housing stock typically falling short of the standard.
In December 2023, when the local authority referred itself to Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), it stated that 2,000 or 17% of its homes did not meet the standard, but said “this figure is likely to rise once we have the results of the stock condition survey.”
In its annual report for tenants and leaseholders, the council highlighted that during the 2023/24 financial year, it completed 61% of emergency repairs on time and 66% of non-emergency repairs on time, falling below its target of 90% and 85% respectively.
When Lewisham Council brought its housing management arm, Lewisham Homes, back in-house in December last year, it referred itself to the Regulator of Social Housing due to concerns about a potential breach of the consumer standards.
>> See also: Housing Ombudsman launches probe into Lewisham Council over high maladministration rate
>> See also: Lewisham Council found non-compliant as 5,000 fire safety actions overdue
In particular, the council was concerned about whether it was providing decent homes, running an efficient repairs service, and completing fire safety actions within acceptable timescales.
In a regulatory notice published in March 2024, the RSH said the council had a significant number of overdue repairs.
The notice also highlighted that 5,000 fire safety actions identified by the council had not been completed within the timeframe required by the council’s own policy.
The council did not provide an update on these fire safety actions in its most recent report.
In addition, it said the local authority had not correctly assessed the severity of reports of damp and mould.
Regarding damp and mould cases, in the council’s report published on Tuesday, it said it is carrying out a condition survey of all of our homes.
As of the end of July 2024, it said it had surveyed 7,500 properties, over 50% of the total.
Lewisham Council stated that it has also recruited additional specialist damp and mould surveyors to work towards a target of performing a mould wash within 24 hours of the issue being reported by a resident.
The local authority has put £2.7m of investment into carrying out a condition survey of its housing and buildings.
By the end of the 2023/24 financial year, it had surveyed 2,000 homes and said it’s on schedule to complete around 13,000 by the end of 2024.
In the report, councillor Will Cooper, cabinet member for Better Homes, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, said: “It is an incredibly challenging time for the housing sector in Lewisham and across the country, with huge challenges when it comes to ensuring everyone has a safe and secure home.
“Social housing is an integral part of making that a reality, I have never been more aware of our need to maintain our current council housing stock but invest in the new homes we so desperately need.”
Cooper said that since Lewisham Homes came back under the council’s control “we have been as open and honest with residents as possible about the challenges we face and our path to making our services better.”
The Ombudsman said Lewisham Council’s maladministration rate for the last 12 months stands at 85% and the watchdog has issued 16 severe maladministration findings. Its maladministration rate for leaks, damp and mould is 90%.
Lewisham Council noted that it is co-operating with the Ombudsman’s special investigation.
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