Southampton has lowest performing decent homes standard in England
Only 48% of council homes in Southampton are meeting the decent homes standard
Failing to improve the condition of thousands of Southampton’s council homes could lead to a regulator taking decision-making away from the local authority.
Councillors have been told the city council had the lowest performing decent homes standard in England at just 48 per cent last year.
A report to the housing scrutiny panel said several mitigations had been put in place to stabilise the position over the past year.
The main drivers of the poor performance were said to be legacy underinvestment in the property estate, under-delivering of the capital investment programme and non-optimisation of poor-performing assets.
Director of housing Jamie Brenchley told the panel meeting on Thursday, September 5, that the council was targeting a 10 per cent improvement to the decent homes standard in the current financial year.
He said a five-year costed plan was being produced, which would allow the authority to move to 100 per cent compliance.
For a property to meet the decent home standard it must satisfy four criteria around the minimum legal requirements for housing, key components like the structure, roof and electrics being in good condition, having reasonably modern facilities and services, and containing adequate insultation and efficient heating systems.
Liberal Democrat panel member Cllr George Percival asked if the council stayed at its current level, which is 52 per cent of housing meeting the decent homes standard, what repercussions could the authority face over the next couple of years.
Mr Brenchley said:” The reality is if the improvements do not move at the pace that the regulator feels is satisfactory then there is the risk that the regulator comes in and gives us the direction, so the choice of control will removed from the local authority.
“It’s very much like when children’s services are given unsatisfactory judgements, the Ofsted regulator will come in and in essence make the business decisions for us.”
The senior officer said he did not believe an intervention would be required and he was confident there were credible plans based around the needs of Southampton.
Mr Brenchley added: “If we aren’t able to move forward with some of the things that we are suggesting because politically that’s a challenge, there is a risk that the regulator will step in and mandate that because ultimately we have to move to a space where we are providing our tenants, people that live in our homes, good quality accommodation.
“It is tricky and it is going to be difficult and I’m sure we will have some bumps in the road and some slight disagreements but we do need to try and find that middle ground that allows us to ensure that every person that lives in one of our homes is living in a good quality home that is safe and free from hazards.”
Labour cabinet member for housing Cllr Andy Frampton said the council was currently not the landlord it wanted to be.
Cllr Frampton said: “I think we’ve made a number of good steps and I think that as long as we are being scrutinised in the proper way then we will be able to make sure we reach the targets that we have committed ourselves to.”