The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has severely criticized Islington Council for serious failings in its management of approximately 25,700 social homes in the north London borough. On May 13, the watchdog issued a C3 rating—with C4 being the worst—after an inspection revealed significant deficiencies that require immediate action.
Key Findings of the Inspection
The RSH found that the council's records were outdated or incorrect regarding property conditions. Most council homes had not been surveyed for over a decade, and formal health and safety assessments were missing. Specifically, more than 1,000 communal lifts had overdue works, with up to half delayed by over a year. Although the council stated these were not safety critical and did not force lifts out of service, the regulator had limited assurance that records on health and safety, particularly concerning lifts, asbestos, and fire safety, were compliant.
Positive Aspects and Council Response
Despite these issues, the RSH commended the council's fair and respectful culture towards tenants and noted constructive engagement during the investigation. The repairs service was deemed accessible and compliant, and communication with tenants was improving. The council acknowledged the findings and has started an accelerated survey program, though it is not expected to finish until end of 2028.
Council Leader Una O'Halloran stated: “We take the Regulator’s judgement seriously and fully accept that improvement is needed. The findings highlight weaknesses in how we understand the condition of our homes and how we assure ourselves on safety data, and that is not good enough.” She emphasized that the issue is about systems and assurance, not lack of commitment.
Background and Ongoing Issues
The Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported that between 2024 and 2025, the council created a bottleneck in planned asbestos checks by belatedly providing contractors with the annual list of blocks needing inspection. This left only four months to complete a year's worth of checks, though the council said no tenants were exposed to the carcinogen. The council is now stepping up efforts, including faster surveys and lift repairs, improving data systems, and seeking more reviews of internal reporting.
The RSH assesses social landlords on a scale of 1-4, with 1-2 indicating compliance and 3-4 non-compliance. Islington's C3 rating reflects serious failings that require immediate rectification.
