Housing issues 'skyrocket' after failings revealed

A report exposing significant failings within council-managed social housing has led to a surge in complaints from tenants, according to a councillor.

West Northamptonshire Council revealed inaccurate information about the number of sub-standard properties had been provided by Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH), the organisation that oversees the authority's housing stock.

James Hill, a Conservative councillor who represents Billing and Rectory Farm, said the number of housing concerns had since “skyrocketed”.

The council's leader, Adam Brown, said a fundamental review of NPH's operations was being carried out and tenants' safety was being prioritised.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council said it had contacted tenants across its 11,500 properties, while stressing that the majority of homes met required standards.

However, recent data indicated that 20% of surveyed homes failed to meet the “decent homes” standard, with thousands yet to be inspected.

Hill called for swift action to restore compliance, improve services, and rebuild trust.

The councillor added: “Significant flaws exist in the processes for reporting and recording issues.

“Problems are often mis-recorded or ignored.

"Centralising the reporting mechanism could help ensure issues are logged, tracked, and resolved transparently.”

An independent review also highlighted issues in NPH’s safety and quality practices.

Brown, who leads the council and the Conservative group, acknowledged the severity of the issues, and expressed regret for the impact it has had on tenants.

He said: “These are serious shortcomings, and we are deeply concerned that NPH may have misrepresented its compliance levels to the council."

Brown added that "what we have to prioritise is tenants' safety".

Rosie Humphreys, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Braunston and Crick, said: “Far more serious than the reputational impact is the impact of those in desperate need of housing in our area.

"Every single person on our housing register has been let down.”

Immediate measures have included appointing additional senior directors within NPH, appointing housing experts to its board, and carrying out a broader review of housing.

The council has also referred itself to the social housing regulator, whose findings - due on 27 November - are expected to identify “serious failings".

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