Regulator of Social Housing gives council in Essex lowest possible grade after uncovering “very serious failings”

Castle Point Borough Council has become the second local authority to be handed a C4 grading, the lowest, by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).

The London Borough of Newham was handed the same grading in October 2024.

RSH had given Castle Point a C3 grading in September, after identifying a failure by the local authority to collect and report tenant satisfaction measures (TSMs).

However, during a subsequent inspection, RSH found that Castle Point:

• could not demonstrate that it is effectively managing and mitigating fire safety risks in its homes,
• had not yet taken remedial action to address issues with TSM reporting, with no opportunities for tenants to influence and scrutinise its strategies, policies and services,
• had surveyed less than 1% of its 1,500 homes in the last five years, meaning there are significant gaps in the information it holds on the condition of its homes,
• did not have an up-to-date electrical condition test for over 40% of communal areas, and
• weakened its service to tenants by its failure to have a domestic abuse policy in place. It was also unable to demonstrate how it responds to reports of hate crime or supports victims.   

The Regulator also criticised the borough for failing to refer itself to RSH over any of the outstanding issues.

“Although it has indicated a willingness to address these serious failings, there is not sufficient evidence that it understands the potential risks to tenants and of its ability to put matters right, to ensure tenants are safe,” RSH said.

It added that while Castle Point has an arrangement with a managing agent, as the landlord it is accountable and responsible for meeting the outcomes of the Regulator’s standards.

Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said: “The breadth and seriousness of the issues that we found are extremely concerning. Castle Point must act promptly and make significant changes. 

“The council must urgently ensure that risks to tenants’ safety are managed and mitigated. It must develop a detailed improvement plan and share this with tenants to give them the opportunity to scrutinise and influence the proposals. We will continue to engage intensively with the council as it works to put things right."

Dodsworth added: “We identified these failings through our new proactive inspection programme but we expect landlords to self-refer as soon as they become aware of an issue. All social landlords need to ensure tenants are safe in their homes and meet the outcomes in our standards. We will continue to take action when they don’t.”

In a statement Castle Point said it acknowledged and accepted the findings of the Regulator.

Cllr Dave Blackwell, Leader of Castle Point Borough Council said: “We are sorry that the council has not met the expectations of our tenants, or of the Regulator. We remain committed to ensuring that our homes provide safe and warm places to live for our tenants.

“We accept and recognise that in the past the council hasn’t got everything right, and we are fully committed to making the necessary improvements. Nothing is more important to us than our tenants’ wellbeing and safety and this will remain our priority even after all issues have been addressed.”

He added: “The council has already made key decisions to put this right. In November we agreed to invest an additional £438,000 into the improvement journey and we will take further decisions to invest so that we are completely satisfied we have done all we can to provide safe and decent homes that our tenants expect and maintain the highest standards of service to them.”

Cllr Blackwell said that in January 2025 a report to Cabinet will request the allocation of further funding to support the improvements.

Additionally, Castle Point will review its policies, maintenance and repairs programmes and its engagement with tenants.

Harry Rodd