Regulator of Social Housing
Councils are currently addressing Regulator of Social Housing judgements and aligning housing policies with its consumer standards, with improvement plans underway.
Councils are actively responding to Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) judgements and preparing for inspections. In September 2026, an EY report noted Tower Hamlets Council's social housing governance needs further improvement despite progress. Islington Council is implementing a Housing Improvement Programme to rectify a C3 regulatory judgement from May 2026, approving a £2.4 billion plan in August 2026. Croydon's Housing Services are preparing for an RSH inspection in Q3 2026/2027, with concerns raised in July 2026.
Other councils are aligning policies with RSH Consumer Standards. Redbridge Council adopted housing policies in September 2026 to strengthen management and tenant engagement, and Haringey Council implemented a Clear Communal Areas Policy in January 2026 for safety and compliance. Sutton Council approved a new not-for-profit social housing provider in August 2026, to be registered with the RSH. Upcoming discussions include Tower Hamlets' Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee on 5 October 2026 and Barking and Dagenham's Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 7 October 2026.
The Regulator of Social Housing is the UK government body responsible for regulating social housing providers in England. While some councils, such as Barnet Homes in March 2026 and Enfield Council in July 2025, have achieved the highest C1 rating, others like Hillingdon received a C2 rating in September 2025, indicating areas for improvement.
Key facts
- An EY report in September 2026 stated Tower Hamlets' social housing governance needs further improvement. Source
- Redbridge Council adopted four housing landlord policies in September 2026 to comply with Regulator of Social Housing Consumer Standards. Source 1 Source 2
- Islington Council is implementing a Housing Improvement Programme to address a C3 regulatory judgement from May 2026. Source
- Islington Council approved a £2.4 billion plan in August 2026 to improve its housing stock over 30 years. Source
- Sutton Council approved a new not-for-profit social housing provider in August 2026, to be registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.