Barking and Dagenham Council targets March 2027 for 1,200 fire door retrofits ahead of RSH inspection

Barking and Dagenham Council targets March 2027 for 1,200 fire door retrofits ahead of RSH inspection

Barking and Dagenham Council has set a target to complete the retrofitting of approximately 1,200 fire doors by March 2027 as part of its ongoing efforts to meet the standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).

The council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee received an update on the authority's readiness for a full inspection by the RSH, which is anticipated to take place between January and March 2027. This inspection will assess the council's compliance with a range of consumer standards, including safety and quality.

Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Housing, Adult Social Care and Health, explained that while a full improvement plan is awaiting agreement from the regulator, the committee was being presented with the preparations for the inspection. John Knight, Director of Housing, detailed the regulatory framework, noting that the council had self-referred in 2022 due to concerns about health and safety compliance, leading to a Regulatory Notice in February 2022. This notice highlighted a lack of assurance regarding fire, electrical, asbestos, gas, water, and lift safety.

To address these concerns, the council has undertaken significant work to update databases, implement new systems, and develop a comprehensive improvement plan. Specific actions include updating the main database, creating a 'solar system of data' with linked systems, and ensuring compliance with fire risk assessments, legionella assessments, and asbestos inspections. The council is also proactively managing risks by implementing waking watches or extended alarm systems where necessary while longer-term works are undertaken. The team has expanded, and there is a greater focus on proactive risk management and identifying issues directly within buildings.

Discussions also covered the progress on fire door retrofitting, with approximately 1,200 doors planned for completion by March 2027.

The council expects to have its full improvement plan agreed with the RSH by the end of the current year (2026). Landlords graded from C2 to C4 are required to work closely with the RSH to agree and implement improvements. The RSH uses a grading system from C1 to C4 to assess landlords. A C3 grading signifies that Failings which the landlord's current arrangements are not strong enough to put right and which are significantly affecting service outcomes. In contrast, a C1 grading indicates that Enough evidence provided to demonstrate that the landlord is meeting the Consumer Standards.