Northumberland County Council is under pressure to take “urgent” action after a damning report from the social housing regulator. Last week, a highly critical report was published identifying “very serious failings” in regards to the way the council met consumer standards.
The council has unveiled an improvement plan and is set to spend £1.5 million on a survey of its stock after criticism from the regulator. However, the report has brought significant criticism of the Conservative minority administration from opposition councillors.
Labour comment
Responding to the report, a Labour spokesperson said: “This report is devastating for tenants and deeply embarrassing for the council’s Conservative leadership. It confirms that the authority cannot demonstrate that most of its homes are safe, cannot show it is meeting its legal health and safety duties, and does not yet understand the risks tenants face.
“None of this should come as a surprise. Labour has raised concerns repeatedly about the loss of oversight, weak tenant engagement and the lack of political grip on housing over a long period of time.
“Council-run social housing should be leading by example. After nine years of Conservative control, someone has clearly taken their eye off the ball, and tenants are paying the price.”
Inspection results
The council was graded as C4 following the inspection – the lowest grade possible. The inspection found that the council only has up-to-date information on the condition of around 3% of its 8,200 homes.
The regulator also found “limited evidence” that health and safety assessments are accurately recorded or routinely monitored, or that actions are being addressed within appropriate timescales.
Bosses at the RSH said the council “urgently” needed to develop an understanding of the “root causes” and the “current risks” to tenants.
Cramlington and Killingworth MP comment
Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Foody were particularly alarmed about this lack of understanding. The Labour MP said: “I am very concerned to read that the independent regulator identified ‘very serious failings’ at Northumberland County Council.
“These included information regarding the condition of tenant’s homes, meeting all legal health and safety requirements, with the regulator adding that they ‘do not have assurance that Northumberland County Council’s homes are safe, well maintained and meet the Decent Homes Standard’. These findings will be concerning for tenants, who deserve good quality and safe homes.
“All tenants deserve assurance that the council understands and will address these serious failings. I am especially concerned however that the report sets out that the regulator does not yet have assurance Northumberland County Council ‘understands the potential risks to tenants, and that it has the ability to put matters right’.
“The report but especially their findings on the council not appreciating the potential risk to tenants is deeply worrying. It is critical that Northumberland County Council urgently provide reassurance to tenants and that adequate action is taken to address these serious failings.
“I will be urgently raising these issues with the council, with ministers and the Department for Housing and Local Government.”
Responding to the criticism, council leader Glen Sanderson accused critics of unfairly attacking council staff. He also pointed to a tenant satisfaction survey which saw Northumberland council house residents rated as the most satisfied in the North East.
The 2025/26 survey found that 74% of tenants were satisfied with the council’s performance. This was up from 68% the previous year and above the North East average of 71%.
Councillor Sanderson comment
“Unfortunately, every time someone criticises things like this, they’re criticising the staff. It is the staff who have been given these instructions to follow.
“Criticising them is absolutely stupid. We have to get behind them to make sure that these things that the regulator wants are done at pace.
“We have a scrutiny committee that looks at housing. At no time in the last few years have Labour raised the issues in the report at scrutiny.
“They have had every opportunity to raise any concern that they may have and they haven’t done so. They are playing silly politics with a set of staff who have got my full backing, and they will continue to get that.
“Housing in Northumberland has been given the highest level of satisfaction amongst tenants in the North East. It is my responsibility that the processes are rectified quickly and the staff have my full support.
“We have found £1.5 million to get contractors in to do the housing conditions survey for us. We were capable of doing it ourselves, but because of this report we’re going to have to fund money to do it at speed.”
The report also criticised a “lack of meaningful opportunities for tenants to scrutinise performance and influence services.” Labour has been calling for a tenant voice and avenue for local members to raise issues as far back as 2018.
In the run-up to the 2021 local elections, Labour pledged to introduce a “tenants charter” between the council and tenants so “everyone can expect the service they need”. However, the party came in behind the Tories when voters went to the polls.
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