Press release

RSH publishes regulatory notice for the London Borough of Harrow

The Regulator of Social Housing concluded that the local authority had breached its consumer standards

From:
Regulator of Social Housing
Published
20 April 2023
Last updated
20 April 2023 — See all updates

In a regulatory notice published today (20 April 2023), the Regulator of Social Housing concluded that the London Borough of Harrow has breached the Home Standard and, as a result, there was the potential for serious detriment to tenants.

Following a referral from a tenant, the regulator investigated the London Borough of Harrow and found that it had failed to meet statutory health and safety requirements for electrical and water safety. The council had not completed electrical safety reports for 3,500 homes, and had not completed water risk assessments for every site requiring a re-inspection.

In agreement with the regulator, the council has put a plan in place to address these issues.

Kate Dodsworth, Director of Consumer Regulation at RSH, said:

We investigated the London Borough of Harrow after a tenant referred the case to us, and found that the council has breached our standards and put tenants at potential risk. The council needs to address the issues that led to this situation, and we will monitor it closely as it puts things right for tenants.

ENDS

Notes to editors

  1. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver and maintain homes of appropriate quality that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants.

  2. More information about how RSH regulates against its standards is available in Regulating the Standards.

  3. For press office contact details, see our Media enquiries page. For general queries, please email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5225.

Published 20 April 2023
Last updated 20 April 2023 + show all updates

  1. Press notice updated to correct the number of homes that do not have a current electrical condition report.

  2. First published.