Wandsworth Council has established a Social Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group to address concerns raised following a C3 grading by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) after an inspection in late 2024. The task force aims to improve consumer standards and ensure high-quality services for council tenants.

The C3 grading was a result of shortcomings that the task force will now address, including plans for stock condition surveys, the performance of the electrical safety check programme, performance in relation to fire remedial actions, plans for informal residential engagement, and tracking performance in relation to repairs.

Councillor Kate Stock chairs the group, with Councillors Finna Ayres, Sarah Davies, Ravi Govindia and Mrs. Angela Graham as members. Councillor Maurice McLeod is invited to sessions dedicated to tenant engagement, ensuring resident voices are heard.

The task force's objectives include monitoring and scrutinising improvement actions related to the RSH inspection report, feedback from the Housing Ombudsman, the Building Safety Regulator, and insights from resident engagement structures. The success of the improvement plan will be measured by the adequacy and ambition of the Housing Department's Improvement Plan in response to the C3 grading, identification of measures and milestones towards the achievement of a higher grading, and monitoring improvement actions in relation to the RSH inspection report and feedback from other regulators and resident engagement. Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) will be used as a benchmarking tool with comparisons drawn against the G15 providers. The goal is to ensure the council achieves a higher grading upon re-inspection and that service improvements are sustainable.

The Housing Department's Improvement Plan will be presented at the next meeting of the Social Housing Improvement Task and Finish Group. The timing of any reassessment and/or re-inspection are at the discretion of the regulator.

Specific issues to be addressed by the task force include:

  • Scrutiny of the adequacy and ambition of the Housing Department's Improvement Plan.
  • Plans for stock condition surveys. Over 1110 stock condition surveys have been completed as of October 2, 2025.
  • The performance of the electrical safety check programme. As of the meeting on October 2, 2025, 80% of domestic electrical compliance has been completed.
  • Performance in relation to fire remedial actions. As of the meeting on October 2, 2025, 88% of communal safe spaces have been completed.
  • Plans for informal residential engagement.
  • Tracking performance in relation to repairs.

The council plans to ensure meaningful resident engagement through several avenues, including informal residential engagement, inviting Councillor Maurice McLeod to tenant engagement sessions, offering members the opportunity to attend resident engagement events and the Resident Conference in October, and assessing resident feedback throughout the review.

The specific targets for improvement in areas like electrical safety checks, fire remedial actions, and repairs will be identified through scrutiny of the Housing Department's Improvement Plan.

The task force will regularly review the improvement action plan and tracker, participate in resident engagement events, consider best practices from other councils, and review relevant materials. Public involvement will be encouraged through resident engagement events and feedback mechanisms.

The task force will report its progress and make recommendations for further scrutiny topics. Recommendations may also be made to the Cabinet throughout the review process.