Today (Wednesday 24 September 2025) the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published regulatory judgements for ten social landlords.
Following a planned inspection, RSH has given Southend-on-Sea City Council a C3 grade, meaning it has not met the outcomes of the consumer standards and needs to make significant improvements. RSH found that the council:
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Had not completed electrical safety tests for all communal areas and homes that required them.
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Had more than 900 overdue repairs cases.
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Identified that it needed to make improvements to data management and systems, to improve the accuracy of data reported in relation to health and safety
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Did not have accurate information about the condition of most homes. However, a full physical stock condition survey is now underway.
Southend-on-Sea City Council is engaging constructively with RSH. It understands the issues it needs to address and is taking action to rectify them.
RSH also published judgements for nine housing associations, following planned inspections.
Bournemouth Churches Housing Association Limited, Habinteg Housing Association Limited, Paragon Asra Housing Limited, and Railway Housing Association and Benefit Fund each received G1, V2, C2 gradings.
Bournville Village Trust, Coastline Housing Limited, and One Manchester Limited each received G1, V2 and C1 grades.
Karbon Homes Limited received G1, V1 and C2 grades, while B3 Living Limited received G1, V1, C1 grades.
Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said:
“It is crucial that social landlords have accurate, up-to-date data about tenants’ homes. They must use this information to identify issues, and put things right promptly when needed.
“Social landlords must ensure they are well run, financially viable and provide good-quality homes and services for tenants. We will continue to use a range of tools, including our inspections, to support a sector that builds more and better homes for people who need them.”
G1 and V1 grades mean that a landlord meets RSH’s governance and viability requirements respectively. A V2 grade means a landlord meets RSH’s requirements but needs to manage material risks to ensure continued compliance. A C2 means there are some weaknesses in the landlord delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, and it needs to make improvements.
Notes to editors
- Links to each of the judgements are available in the table below.
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On 1 April 2024 RSH introduced new consumer standards for social housing landlords, designed to drive long-term improvements in the sector. It also began a programme of landlord inspections. The changes are a result of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and include stronger powers to hold landlords to account. More information about RSH’s approach is available in its document Reshaping Consumer Regulation.
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More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and regulatory gradings is also available on its website.
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RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.
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