The Housing Overview and Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the Portfolio Holder's priorities for the upcoming municipal year, an update on Awaab's Law, and discussions on private estate management charges.

Portfolio Holder Priorities for 2026-2027

Councillor Drake-Davis, Portfolio Holder for Economic Renewal and Housing, is expected to present their priorities for the 2026-2027 municipal year. These priorities are understood to focus on increasing the supply of affordable homes, particularly those at social rent, providing effective support to prevent homelessness and reduce reliance on temporary accommodation, and improving standards within privately rented housing. A key objective is to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe services that meet tenant expectations and the requirements of the Regulator of Social Housing.

Private Estate Management Fleecehold Charges

The Commission is scheduled to receive an overview of private estate management arrangements, colloquially referred to as fleecehold charges. This topic arises from a Full Council motion in July 2025, which noted concerns about these charges on new build developments. The motion highlighted that these charges, paid to private firms for communal features, are often difficult to challenge, lack transparency in how funds are used, and are levied in addition to Council Tax. The report pack indicates that any significant changes to the Council's ability to regulate or challenge these arrangements will depend on national legislative changes, with the forthcoming Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill expected to introduce new regulations for private estate management companies.

Update on Awaab's Law

An update is scheduled regarding the implementation of the Hazard in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, commonly known as Awaab's Law. This legislation, introduced following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak due to mould exposure, mandates landlords to address emergency hazards and damp and mould within specific timeframes. The report details how Neighbourhoods and Housing has responded to these changes, including amendments to their ICT systems, training for staff, and the establishment of a dedicated Awaab's Law team. The update will also cover the challenges faced, such as the volume of reported cases and access issues, and preparations for Phase 2 of the law, which will extend to more hazards.

Progress and Impact of 5-Day Urgent Repairs

The Commission is set to receive an update on the progress and impact of implementing a 5-day urgent repair category, alongside a 60-day planned order for larger repairs. This initiative aims to improve customer experience, optimise resource use, and align with best practices for benchmarking performance. The report will detail the re-prioritisation of repair types, the introduction of follow-on orders for KWL, and the impact of Awaab's Law on repair categories. The introduction of new repair categories, such as Very Urgent (one day) and Planned (60/90 days), is also expected to be discussed.

Contract Extension for General Building Works, Improvements and Repairs

A report is scheduled for pre-decision scrutiny regarding a proposed one-year extension to the existing General Building Works, Improvements and Repairs NEC4 Term Service Contract with CLC Contractors Limited. This extension, which would increase the contract value by £3,500,000 to a total of £10,500,000, is intended to ensure the continued delivery of essential property maintenance, compliance, and improvement works. The increase in contract value is attributed to legislative and regulatory changes, increased service demand, and the need to support wider housing priorities, including the refurbishment of void properties and the Council's Buy Back Programme.

Neighbourhoods and Housing Access Policy

The Commission will undertake pre-decision scrutiny of the Neighbourhoods and Housing Access Policy. This policy has been developed to provide a consistent approach for officers when reviewing existing and developing new access procedures within the service. It outlines the relevant legislation, guidance, and internal documents, details when access is needed, and sets out the principles the service will follow if access is refused. The policy aims to balance the Council's need to maintain properties and ensure safety with tenants' right to quiet enjoyment of their homes, emphasising a reasonable approach and considering equalities and vulnerabilities.

Neighbourhoods & Housing Quarterly Assurance and Performance Report

The Commission is scheduled to scrutinise the Neighbourhoods & Housing Quarterly Assurance and Performance Report for Quarter 1 of 2026-27. This report provides an overview of the service's performance, highlighting achievements and areas requiring improvement. Key areas covered include compliance with the Decent Homes Standard, the progress of Home Condition Surveys, safety compliance measures, and repairs performance. The report also addresses challenges such as void properties, overdue repairs, and the management of households in temporary accommodation. Building safety, including work on high-rise blocks and fire remediation actions, is also a significant focus.

Work Programme

The Commission will consider and agree the latest version of its work programme. This will involve reviewing outstanding housing-related matters requiring further scrutiny and identifying any additional areas of focus for future meetings. Topics likely to be considered include oversight of key housing performance areas, the performance of other registered social housing providers, customer contact arrangements, and future reporting on supported accommodation and building safety.