The Housing Scrutiny Commission met on 14 October 2025 to discuss a range of housing-related topics, including an update on the Good Landlord Plan, the revised Resident Engagement Strategy, and fire safety investment. Also on the agenda were reports relating to new build homes on Tenda Road and a recommendation to demolish Marie Curie House. The meeting was also scheduled to include a review of the commission's work programme for the 2025-2026 municipal year and a discussion of cabinet responses to the scrutiny review of tenant structures.

Good Landlord Plan Progress

The commission was scheduled to receive an update on the progress and status of the Good Landlord Plan, which outlines Southwark's approach to being a good landlord for all tenants and leaseholders. The Good Landlord Plan is intended to provide a structure for aligning housing improvement work with the council's wider goals around fairness, health, and opportunity as set out in the Southwark 2030 Strategy.

The plan is based on six themes:

• Better Homes
• Better Estates
• Better Repairs
• Better Customer Service
• A Stronger Voice for Tenants
• New Council Homes

The report pack included information on progress in each of these areas, and also mentioned that the council is preparing for Awaab's Law, which is set to come into force in October 2025.

The report pack noted that following a regulatory judgement, the Housing Improvement Programme was initiated as a cross-cutting programme of improvement and transformation across housing services. It also stated that the Regulator of Social Housing has the power to downgrade Southwark to a C4, meaning there are very serious failings requiring fundamental changes, and the Regulator may take enforcement action.

Revised Resident Engagement Strategy

The commission was scheduled to consider and comment on the revised Resident Engagement Strategy, which aims to strengthen the voice of residents. The revised strategy responded to engagement with residents, the recommendations of the Housing, Community Safety and Community Engagement Scrutiny Commission, and an independent review of resident consultation.

The report pack included the Social Life Report, which was commissioned to assess the outcomes of the resident consultation. Social Life recommended that the strategy should:

• Signal clearly that concerns about the landlord function are being taken seriously and that action is underway.
• Support implementation through improvements in service responsiveness, information provision, feedback loops, staff support and strengthening of TRAs¹ and other resident-led bodies
• Simplify and amend the strategy to better reflect residents' concerns.

The report pack also included a proposal for the implementation of Tenant and Leaseholder-led Landlord Service Improvement Boards, which would give tenants and leaseholders a structured and accountable framework to interrogate landlord services performance information, review and agree landlord service improvement action plans and hold the council as a landlord to account for the standard and quality of the housing management service. The Supplemental Agenda No. 2 outlined amendments to the proposal for implementation of resident-led landlord service improvement boards, including changes to membership selection and board tenure.

Tenda Road New Build Homes

The commission was scheduled to receive a report on the new build homes at Tenda Road, noting the project's complex history and the action plan in place to address concerns and resolve the matter, as well as the appointment of an independent investigator.

According to the report pack, planning permission for the 12-home development was granted in July 2017, and Contractor A was selected to construct the works. However, concerns over Contractor A's work were raised early in the project, and the contract was terminated in December 2020. Contractor B were then awarded the contract, and the construction work was completed in June 2023.

Since August 2023, a series of issues have been raised by the Building Control Authority that Contractor B have aimed to satisfy. To seek additional assurance, Southwark Construction appointed an external, and independent, building control authority to conduct a form of 'peer review'. To obtain a full and accurate chronology of the scheme, an independent forensic investigation has been jointly appointed by Southwark Construction and Building Control.

Post-Grenfell Compliance and Future Fire Safety Investment

The commission was scheduled to receive a report on post-Grenfell compliance and future fire safety investment, noting how the council currently stands in relation to updated fire safety legislation and the implementation of fire safety-specific modifications to housing stock, as well as its plans for future fire safety investment.

The report pack included information on the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and the Building Safety Act 2022[^3], as well as the council's fire safety compliance performance. It also outlined the council's plans to invest £250 million over the next three years to ensure council homes are well maintained, safe and compliant with modern, green, and decent standards.

Marie Curie - Recommendation to Demolish

The commission was scheduled to receive a report on the recommendation to demolish Marie Curie House, noting the options considered in arriving at this recommendation and the reasons for departing from the original (2022) cabinet recommendation.

According to the report pack, Marie Curie House is a 16-storey residential block of 98 apartments on the Sceaux Gardens Estate. In September 2021, cabinet approval was obtained for the council to commence the rehousing of tenants in Marie Curie and to start the individual negotiations to acquire the leasehold properties.

A comprehensive structural survey is currently underway at Marie Curie to assess its overall integrity and suitability for continued occupation or refurbishment. Initial findings have already identified several critical concerns that pose serious risks to life safety and the long-term stability of the structure.

The report pack outlined the options considered for addressing fire safety and structural concerns at Marie Curie Building, including refurbishment, stripping the building back to its superstructure, and demolition. It noted that the recommendation to demolish Marie Curie will be presented to cabinet in December 2025, and that the council must consider appropriate steps to address the findings of the recent Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment in 2025.

Work Programme 2025-2026

The commission was scheduled to consider its work programme for the 2025-2026 municipal year. The work programme document listed the items which have been or are to be considered in line with the committee's terms of reference.

Cabinet Responses

The commission was scheduled to note cabinet's responses to the Housing, Community Safety and Community Engagement Scrutiny Commission's: Scrutiny Review of Tenant Structures (Draft Resident Involvement Strategy) Interim Report.

The report pack included cabinet's responses to the commission's recommendations, including accepting all recommendations made by Housing Scrutiny.