Portsmouth City Council was reeling from the latest regulatory judgment.
A C3 grading from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) was a damning verdict, exposing the council’s failure to meet consumer standards.
The findings were stark: over 1,000 outstanding fire remedial actions, more than 85% of homes without an electrical condition test in over five years, and a severe lack of clarity in repair services for tenants.
The storm had been brewing since August 2024, when the council’s Fire Safety Remediation Survey flagged potential issues.
INVESTIGATION
What began as a fire safety review quickly expanded into a full-scale investigation. The result? Portsmouth’s own self-assessment confirmed the troubling deficiencies, leading to its self-referral to the regulator.
Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at RSH, says. “The health and safety of tenants is non-negotiable. Providing safe, decent homes for tenants starts with accurate, up-to-date data. Without this, it is impossible to deliver the right services to residents.”
Yet, amidst the criticism, there was a glimmer of hope.
Councillor Darren Sanders, cabinet member for housing, embraced the findings as an opportunity.
“We knew there was room for improvement,” she says. “That’s why we referred ourselves and have publicised this to our tenants. We welcome and accept the regulator’s findings and will work constructively with them.”
