Regulator of Social Housing removes Haringey from its watchlist for first time in three years
Some good news to start the new year, as the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) confirms that Haringey Council’s efforts to improve its provision of social housing have met with success.
Photo by Christian Stahl / Unsplash
Under powers given in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, the RSH sets regulatory standards that define the outcomes that all registered landlords of social housing – including local authorities – must deliver. These include standards on such matters as safety and quality, transparency and value for money.
There have long been concerns about the quality of social housing in the London Borough of Haringey. In 2022, the council decided to bring landlord services back in-house as part of an effort to improve standards for tenants and leaseholders.
However, it then self-referred to the regulator in January 2023, which concluded that the council provision did not comply with its consumer standards. The council was duly placed on the RSH watchlist.
In response, the council voluntarily committed to address key issues. In doing so, in the past three years it has made thousands of interventions to improve fire and electrical safety, and brough a thousand homes up to the levels defined in Decent Homes standards. What’s more, the council had overhauled its own governance, data management and compliance processes.
Recognising this enormous effort to improve, on December 17, 2025, RSH confirmed that it is satisfied that Haringey’s provision of social housing now meets the appropriate consumer standards.
Cllr Sarah Williams, Haringey Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning says: ‘When we took our housing service back in-house in 2022, we were determined to transform it for the benefit of our residents. Thanks to an almost £5m cash injection, a detailed plan of action and the commitment of our housing team and our Housing Improvement Board in delivering it – we are turning things round and giving our residents the high level of assurance they deserve.
‘While the regulator’s announcement is very welcome, we won’t be complacent. We will maintain a laser-like focus on continued improvement so we can build on this important milestone.
‘We are grateful to our colleagues and external stakeholders, including the regulator with whom we’ve maintained regular dialogue, for the guidance and challenge they’ve given to drive us forward. We’d also like to thank our residents for lending us their voice through our new resident engagement structure – something I’m especially proud of. We will continue to be open, to listen and learn.’
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