Bury’s housing services receive first regulatory inspection judgement
Bury Council has made progress in improving its housing services since they returned to direct council management in 2024, while recognising that significant work remains.
The council’s first inspection under the new regulatory framework has recognised improvements already underway and identified where further action is needed to deliver better homes and services for tenants.
The Regulator of Social Housing has awarded Bury Council a C3 grading after identifying serious failings against national consumer standards, particularly in the safety and quality of homes and tenants’ ability to influence and scrutinise services.
Councillor Ayesha Arif, Cabinet Member for Housing Services, said: “Everyone living in our council homes should expect a safe, well-maintained home, reliable services, clear information and a proper say in decisions affecting them.
“We accept the regulator’s findings and recognise that we haven’t consistently met those standards. I’m sorry that our services have fallen short of what tenants should expect.
“We’ve been working to address longstanding problems since housing services returned to the council, and the regulator has recognised that progress. But we know there is much more to do.
“We will use these findings to focus and accelerate improvements, working closely with the regulator and our tenants. What matters is that tenants see and experience those improvements for themselves.”
Inspectors identified serious failings in safety and quality, transparency, tenant influence and accountability. These included the council’s inability to provide sufficient assurance about the accuracy of safety information and whether required work had been completed, alongside weaknesses in repairs, damp and mould, and opportunities for tenants to influence services.
More than 2,800 fire safety remedial actions were overdue at the time of inspection, most assessed as medium or low risk. The regulator also found that the council could not demonstrate how long some actions had been outstanding. The council has strengthened how these actions are recorded and monitored, with work continuing to address those outstanding.
Since 2024, improvements have included establishing a dedicated compliance team, strengthening safety monitoring and reporting, reducing outstanding repairs and improving how anti-social behaviour and complaints are managed.
The regulator recognised evidence of progress in reducing overdue repairs, while making clear that further work is needed to demonstrate consistently better outcomes for tenants.
In its judgement, the regulator said the council “has demonstrated that it understands the issues it needs to address, and is taking action to rectify the failings and weaknesses identified.”
The regulator will continue to monitor improvements closely. It is not proposing enforcement action at this stage, although this remains under review.
The council is writing directly to tenants and providing further information through its housing newsletter. Tenants will be involved in shaping and scrutinising improvements, including discussions with involved tenants on 23 November.