The Housing Committee of Redbridge Council is scheduled to consider its work plan for the upcoming year and review reports on housing inspection preparedness, governance, and tenant satisfaction. The committee will also receive updates on the Housing Committee Work Plan for 2026-27.

Housing Committee Work Plan 2026-27

The committee is scheduled to review its work plan for the 2026-27 period. This plan outlines the topics that are intended for discussion throughout the year. The report pack indicates that the committee will receive a PowerPoint presentation or verbal update on the following areas:

• Preparedness for Housing Inspection: This topic will cover the council's readiness for upcoming housing inspections. The report pack details the policy context, including the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2024, Awaab's Law (October 2025), Decent Homes (January 2026), and the Renters' Rights Act (May 2026). It also outlines learning from previous judgements on what constitutes a good social landlord, focusing on tenancy, neighbourhood and community, transparency, influence and accountability, and safety and quality. The progress in delivering Consumer Standards is illustrated, with areas of ongoing activity highlighted. Urgent next steps include updating the Tenancy Strategy, formally adopting Anti-Social Behaviour and Domestic Abuse Policies, approving Asset Management and Engagement Strategies, and developing a Competence and Conduct Policy and training programme. Data collection on tenants' equalities categories and vulnerabilities, reviewing the council's Housing website, and providing clearer information to residents and councillors are also noted as key actions. Assurance activities include implementing a new governance model through the Landlord Services Board and acquiring an evidence base for the regulator. A roadmap to 2027 is also presented. Andrew Billany, Director of Housing, and Ben Tomlinson, Head of Housing Strategy, Quality and Assurance, are listed as witnesses for this item.

• RISP Governance: This agenda item is set to discuss the governance arrangements for the Resident Influence and Scrutiny Panel (RISP). The report highlights the context of engaging residents effectively, drawing lessons from incidents like Grenfell Tower and the growing gap between residents and decision-makers. It references the 2024 Social Housing (Regulation) Act and its introduction of Consumer Standards, including one on Transparency, Influence and Accountability. The expected outcomes for this standard include fairness and respect for tenants, delivering equitable outcomes for diverse needs, taking tenants' views into account, providing clear information about landlord services, sharing performance information for tenant scrutiny, and handling complaints effectively. Specific expectations for resident engagement include providing real opportunities to influence and scrutinise services, supporting resident-led involvement, ensuring engagement is accessible and inclusive, and enabling residents to exercise formal rights. The Redbridge framework for resident influence is presented as a long-term focus area. The report details how the RISP aims to open a new channel for residents to influence and scrutinise performance, policy, and strategies, with the objective of empowering residents and creating a forum for them to engage with decision-makers. The RISP is intended to have a substantive board member on the proposed Landlord Services Board, offer scrutiny and feedback, and put forward recommendations to the Landlord Services Board and Housing Committee. Initially, the RISP will be chaired and supported by an independent advocate appointed through TPAS, with the aim of transitioning the chair role to a resident over time. Areas for consideration include ensuring residents are adequately supported, developing a resilient plan for RISP member contributions, considering alternative involvement mechanisms, developing forward plans for the Landlord Services Board and Housing Committee, and evaluating the effectiveness of the governance arrangements. Next steps include proposing the Landlord Services Board and new governance arrangements to the Executive Leadership Team for approval, engaging stakeholders and the RISP to build forward plans, and installing a TPAS-appointed RISP advocate. Andrew Billany and Ben Tomlinson are listed as witnesses.

• Tenant Satisfaction Measures: This item is scheduled to review the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM) for the 2025/26 period. The report details the background of the TSMs, which were introduced by the RSH (Regulator of Social Housing) in April 2023 to track the performance of social landlords. The 2025/26 data represents the third year of collection, with questions set nationally and a minimum random sample-size requirement. Redbridge commissioned Kwest, an independent specialist housing research company, to conduct the surveys. The report presents survey results for various measures, including satisfaction with services provided by the landlord, repairs, home maintenance, safety, landlord listening to tenant views, landlord communication, fair treatment, complaints handling, upkeep of communal areas, contribution to neighbourhoods, and handling of anti-social behaviour. The commentary on the survey results indicates that tenant satisfaction generally improved over the 24/25 period, with significant improvements in tenants feeling listened to and responded to, and in the perception of the landlord's contribution to neighbourhoods. However, complaints handling and upkeep of communal areas scored lower than in 24/25, though this was within the surveys' margins of error. The report also includes Landlord Measures (KPIs) for 2025/26, covering gas safety checks, fire risk assessments, asbestos management surveys, legionella risk assessments, communal lift safety checks, homes not meeting the Decent Homes Standard, non-emergency and emergency repairs completed within target timescales, complaints received and responded to within timescales, and anti-social behaviour cases. Andrew Billany and Ben Tomlinson are listed as witnesses.

The committee is also scheduled to elect a Vice Chair, welcome new members, and address any apologies for absence and declarations of interest. Public Question Time will also take place. The date of the next meeting is scheduled for 2 September 2026.