The Regulator of Social Housing has issued its first consumer inspection judgement for City of York Council, identifying a need for improvements in how the authority manages its 7,430 social housing homes.
Following an inspection, the council was awarded a C2 grade, which signifies that there are some weaknesses in how the local authority delivers its housing services. The regulator specifically pointed to issues regarding the timing of repairs and the way the council handles complaints from tenants.
According to the inspection findings, 79% of all repairs are currently being completed on time, though 90% of emergency repairs are finished on the same or the next day. The report also noted that the council has struggled to respond to complaints within required timescales, with only 55% of Stage 1 and 40% of Stage 2 complaints addressed on schedule.
Despite these findings, the regulator highlighted several strengths, including the council’s accurate understanding of the condition of its properties and its effective work in helping tenants maintain their tenancies. The council was also praised for its performance in addressing damp and mould, a particularly significant issue given that many of the city’s homes are built on marshland.
The local authority, which had proactively self-referred to the regulator in October 2024 to highlight areas requiring attention, is now working on an action plan to reach a higher C1 rating. The council is currently investing additional resources into frontline housing services, which includes increasing staff capacity to improve response times for enquiries and complaints, as well as strengthening oversight of safety and quality standards.
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