The Regulator of Social Housing has found "serious failings" with Guildford Borough Council, after the Lib Dem administration referred itself to the regulator in December last year when areas of concern were identified.
The regulator's judgement, published on Tuesday 8th July, stated that "significant improvement" was needed at the Council, as it has failed "to ensure that it meets a number of legal requirements in relation to health and safety."
Guildford Borough Council owns around 5,200 social housing properties, providing pre-dominantly general needs accommodation, with some supported and sheltered accommodation. As the landlord, the Council is responsible for all statutory landlord functions within the Housing Revenue Account.
In approximately 1,700 of these properties, there is no current electrical condition report, and a further 1,000 have unsatisfactory certificates, meaning improvement work to address health and safety concerns are required. In addition, the Council does not have any evidence of a current electrical condition report for more than 100 communal blocks.
This follows from the Police investigation into alleged fraud in the Council's housing department in November 2023, which was escalated to the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit due to the complexity and level of fraud discovered. A "quick fix culture" had emerged since 2019, which allowed potentially millions of pounds to be defrauded at the expense of vulnerable housing tenants.
Lib Dem leader of the Council, Cllr Julia McShane, has said she "acknowledged and fully accepted" the regulator's findings.
Commenting, Surrey County Councillor Trefor Hogg said:
"The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 put in place last year, is beginning to bite social housing providers who fail to comply with their obligations.
"Guildford is one of five providers where the Social Housing Regulator has found serious failings in providing Safe and Secure homes. Guildford scored a C3 rating which is below the minimum acceptable level. Guildford Borough Council is now taking urgent action. Other social housing providers are going to have to start improving their game."
