Havering Council's Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee has committed to a comprehensive review of the borough's housing stock and its impact on resident stability, a move linked to broader housing discussions and a new housing allocation scheme where residents are reportedly struggling with its complexity.
The committee, during a meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, added Housing Stock and Resident Stability
to its work programme for the upcoming municipal year. This review aims to examine the current state of housing in Havering and assess whether residents are experiencing stability, and how this, in turn, affects socio-economic conditions. While specific initial concerns prompting this review were not explicitly stated in the meeting information, it is understood to be connected to the challenges residents face with the new housing allocation scheme, including difficulties in understanding their points total and the overall intelligibility of the system.
Councillor Alex Donald, who chaired the meeting, highlighted the committee's capacity for approximately six topics over the next four regular meetings, in addition to a task and finish group. This dedicated group is focused on investigating homelessness and rough sleeping in Havering, with the objective of exploring the fundamental question: What would it take to genuinely reduce homelessness in Havering?
The task and finish group will examine housing supply, affordability, prevention, partnership working, and support for vulnerable residents, addressing a critical aspect of housing stock and resident stability.
The committee's agenda and reports pack for the September 15, 2026 meeting can be accessed online. Agenda frontsheet 15th Sep 2026 and Public reports pack 15th Sep 2026 provide further details on the committee's proceedings.