Two local authorities get C3 consumer grade from RSH

Two local authorities received a C3 consumer grade from the Regulator of Social Housing in regulatory judgements published today (Wednesday 30 September 2026).

RSH’s inspection of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in Warwickshire found serious failings in the delivery of the consumer standards.

Significant improvement is needed, particularly in relation to repairs, health and safety, and the landlord’s approach to transparency and accountability, including its failure to communicate material issues to RSH promptly.

RSH also identified weaknesses in how the landlord meets tenants’ diverse needs and handles complaints.

Serious failings were also found at Thanet District Council in Kent in its delivery of the consumer standards.

The most significant issues relate to the quality and condition of homes and not demonstrating timely or appropriate action to deter and tackle anti-social behaviour.

And while the council meets expectations in areas such as repairs, health and safety, tenancy services, and transparency and accountability, RSH identified weaknesses that require further action.

RSH Deputy Chief Executive Kate Dodsworth said: “Landlords are responsible for providing safe, decent homes and listening to residents.

“Our inspections found serious failings that are having a real impact on tenants. Where standards fall short, we will hold landlords to account and expect swift and sustained improvement.”

Two housing associations – Northamptonshire-based Greatwell Homes Ltd and Stockton-on-Tees-based North Star Housing Group - received a C1 grade on their first grading.

Paragon Asra (PA) Housing Limited, which owns 24,000 homes across London, Surrey and the East Midlands, was upgraded to C1 from C2.

PA Housing has strengthened its services for tenants by improving repairs and planned maintenance, enhanced controls to support safe and responsive services, and made better use of information about its tenants’ needs. The landlord has also improved its oversight of complaints and anti-social behaviour.

All three had unchanged G1 governance and V2 financial viability grades.

In addition, five landlords – Bristol-based Brighter Places, Cornwall Council, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) Limited, Norfolk-based Freebridge Community Housing Limited and Somerset-based NSAH (Alliance) Homes – received a C2 following inspection.

FCHO has unchanged G1 governance and V1 financial viability grades, while the other three housing associations all have unchanged G1/V2 grades.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The full list of judgements published today is provided in the table below.

1. On 1 April 2024 RSH introduced revised 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.

2. RSH does not give grades to small landlords (under 1,000 homes) and only publishes regulatory judgements where it considers there to be serious weaknesses or failings in a landlord’s delivery of the outcomes of the standards.

3. More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website.

4. 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.

5. RSH publishes gradings for consumer, governance and viability. Local authorities only receive consumer gradings. More information can be found on our How we approach regulatory judgements and gradings page.

6. For media enquiries please contact vicky.moore@rsh.gov.uk or christian.cosby@rsh.gov.uk. For general enquiries, email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk.