The London Borough of Lewisham (Lewisham Council) has been found to be falling short of the required standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).

In a regulatory notice released today, RSH revealed that Lewisham Council is not meeting the necessary outcomes outlined in the consumer standards. The investigation was prompted by a self-referral from the council itself.

The findings of the investigation highlighted various issues concerning the condition of homes and services provided by the council. While fire risk assessments have been conducted for all relevant blocks, there are over 5,000 overdue fire safety actions.

Furthermore, a significant number of repairs were found to be overdue. Between April and December 2023, almost half of all repairs were not completed within the specified timeframe. Additionally, there were discrepancies in the assessment of the severity of damp and mould reports.

Lewisham Council has acknowledged that more than 2,000 homes fail to meet the Decent Homes Standard. The council lacks comprehensive data regarding its tenants’ homes and is currently conducting a stock survey to gain a better understanding of their condition.

In response to RSH’s investigation, the council has implemented an action plan to address these issues. Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, emphasized the importance of social landlords providing high-quality homes and services supported by accurate data. She noted that Lewisham Council's failure in this regard led to its self-referral to RSH and expressed confidence in the council's efforts to rectify the situation. RSH will continue to monitor the council's progress closely. Photo by Steve Cadman from London, U.K., Wikimedia commons.