The Housing Scrutiny Committee of Camden Council met on Thursday 3 September 2026 to discuss updates on the private rented sector, anti-social behaviour, void property performance, and the work programme. The meeting also included an update from the Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Homelessness Prevention.

Update on Private Sector Housing Service and Implementation of the Renters' Rights Act 2025

The committee received an update on the Council's efforts to improve standards within the private rented sector, with a particular focus on the planning and implementation of new responsibilities arising from the Renters' Rights Act 2025. This legislation aims to enhance tenant protections, introduce new duties for landlords and letting agents, and strengthen local authority enforcement powers. The report outlined the governance arrangements for implementation, operational impacts, and the assessment of workforce and financial requirements. It noted that Camden's private rented sector houses 36% of households, with variations across wards. The Act introduces a general duty for local authorities to enforce relevant requirements, moving from a reactive to a more proactive approach. The report detailed the development of new enforcement policies, the duty to report on enforcement activity, and the forthcoming national Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database. Communications and renter awareness initiatives, including Camden's first Private Renters Week, were also highlighted. The report indicated that while initial post-implementation demand had been lower than forecast, an increase was anticipated in the medium term. Potential risks and challenges, such as increased demand for support, operational requirements, and workforce capacity, were being addressed through phased recruitment and ongoing training.

Anti-Social Behaviour - Update on Policy and Procedures for Council Tenants and Leaseholders

This report provided an update on the progress of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and Community Safety work across the borough, outlining steps to strengthen the Council's approach for its tenants and leaseholders. The report referenced the We Make Camden pledge to ensure residents are safe at home and safe in our communities. It highlighted that ASB remains a key concern and that the Council has a shared responsibility with the Police to tackle it, in line with the Regulator of Social Housing's Neighbourhood and Community Standard. The Council's ASB Policy, published in September 2024, and its associated Procedure, were reviewed following changes in legislation. A recent ASB review had led to improvements, including a communications campaign, an ASB dashboard, and a mental health protocol. Despite these efforts, tenant satisfaction with the Council's handling of ASB remained below the London average, with reports of ASB increasing, attributed to greater understanding of how to report incidents. A deep dive into housing and ASB was planned to support data-driven service improvements. The report detailed the Council's ASB Policy and Procedure, which aims to manage and address ASB fairly, reasonably, proportionately, and transparently, with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and partnership working. The Good Neighbourhood Management Policy, published in April 2026, was also mentioned as complementing the ASB Policy by addressing issues that may not meet the threshold for statutory nuisance but affect quality of life. The report detailed successes from the ASB Review, including increased use of enforcement tools, the recruitment of five new ASB Officers, and the implementation of a single reporting system and dedicated dashboard. A new ASB communications campaign and a Mental Health Protocol were also noted. The report outlined plans for a housing and ASB deep dive session in September to analyse quantitative, qualitative, and spatial data to identify areas for improvement.

Void Property Performance

The committee received an update on Camden's void property performance and the work being undertaken through the Voids Improvement Programme. The aim of this programme is to reduce turnaround times, improve oversight, strengthen accountability, and bring more homes back into use more quickly. As of 30 June 2026, there were 327 active voids, a reduction from a previous peak. The report indicated that average overall routine turnaround times had reduced to 109 days. Improvements in lettings and repairs teams, along with new performance dashboards, had contributed to reduced delays. The Voids Improvement Programme has set targets to consistently reduce routine turnaround times to below 100 days, with a stretch target of 50 days. The report acknowledged that Camden's housing stock has characteristics that can lead to longer turnaround times, such as older homes and properties in conservation areas. The Voids Improvement Programme views void management as an end-to-end housing journey, strengthening accountability and focusing on overall results rather than individual stages. The report detailed progress made, including enhanced data and reporting capabilities through a Voids Power BI dashboard, the appointment of a new Head of Voids Programme, and the establishment of dedicated workstreams. A new procurement strategy for void repairs and refurbishment contractors was to be considered. The report outlined next steps, including bringing held properties back into use and reviewing the allocations policy and viewings process. Risks and challenges identified included data quality issues, legacy system problems, and the need for sustained senior sponsorship and cross-service collaboration. Organisational learning highlighted the importance of a resident-centred perspective and end-to-end measures.

Update from Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Homelessness Prevention

Councillor Anna Wright, Cabinet Member for Better Homes and Homelessness Prevention, provided an update on several key areas within her portfolio. These included improvements to IT systems supporting the Homes and Communities Directorate, with a focus on Temporary Accommodation, Awaab's Law (Repairs), Resident Interaction (Project Lighthouse), and True Compliance. Significant work was noted in improving data quality and governance across housing systems. The update also covered the new in-house gas boiler team, which had made a positive start despite ongoing IT issues. An automated SMS notification service for lift repairs, which had sent over 33,000 notifications since January 2026, was also highlighted. The report detailed preparations for the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), including emergency accommodation provision and outreach efforts. Winter preparedness for heating and hot water systems was also a focus, with reviews of communal heating systems and contractor arrangements. Progress on the commitment to improve safety in council homes, including significant investment in fire safety works and the completion of major works at the Chalcots Estate, was also discussed.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

This report provided an update on the committee's work programme for 2026/27 and actions requested at previous meetings. The committee's terms of reference, which are to scrutinise the Council's policies and the provision, planning, financing, management, and performance of housing services, were noted. A draft committee workplan for the year was attached, and members were invited to suggest amendments. The report also invited the committee to consider any forthcoming key Cabinet decisions it wished to review in advance. The possibility of establishing time-limited, task-focused Panels was also mentioned. The actions arising from the previous meeting in July 2026 were detailed in an action tracker.