Two housing associations and two local authorities received their first consumer grades from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in regulatory judgements published today (Wednesday 8 July 2026).

Aster Group received a C1, while Charnwood Borough Council, Dover District Council and Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) Limited received C2 grades.

Both Aster and ISHA also have assessed and unchanged G1 governance and V2 financial viability grades.

RSH found that Aster was delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards, and that its governance arrangements enable it to effectively manage the risks of its activities, allowing it to deliver its strategic and charitable objectives.

Charnwood Borough Council (Charnwood BC) demonstrated a reasonable understanding of its homes, having completed surveys on 87% of its homes within the past five years. The local authority identified that 3.85% of its homes did not meet the Decent Homes Standard, but had a planned maintenance programme which meant hazards were identified and managed with remedial works either completed or scheduled within defined timescales.

The council was providing an effective, efficient, and timely repairs service and had taken steps to strengthen contract management, improve the quality of the information it holds on repairs, and respond to tenant feedback, including the introduction of a tenant liaison team.

RSH identified some weaknesses in the way Charnwood BC monitors, reports and uses information on its anti-social behaviour service, and in demonstrating that it understands and responds to the diverse needs of its tenants.

RSH found some weaknesses at Dover District Council (Dover DC) in how anti-social behaviour and hate incidents were being recorded and monitored and how the council uses data to support its work in preventing and tackling cases.

Dover DC showed evidence of a respectful and positive culture towards tenants and evidenced some understanding of the diverse need of its tenants, though further improvement is required to ensure it is delivering fair and equitable outcomes for tenants. The local authority plans to revise its tenant engagement strategy and strengthen the information it holds and use tenant information to inform strategic decision making.

ISHA had weaknesses in ensuring that all required actions arising from fire risk assessments are carried out within appropriate timescales.

The housing association identified weaknesses in how it works co-operatively with tenants, other landlords and relevant organisations to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of shared spaces. ISHA’s approach to anti-social behaviour, while clearly set out in policy, continues to require improvement given the low levels of tenant satisfaction.

ISHA is also undertaking improvements to its complaints service to ensure complaints are addressed fairly, effectively and promptly.

Kate Dodsworth, RSH’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Landlords should use tenant insights to drive continuous improvement, identifying risks early and testing what tenants say against stock condition and other data so that engagement has a clear purpose.

“It’s encouraging to see landlords working towards meeting the Consumer Standards and specifically using tenant feedback to strengthen services and deliver better outcomes.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The full list of judgements published today is provided in the table below.

1. On 1 April 2024 RSH introduced revised consumer standards for social housing landlords, designed to drive long-term improvements in the sector. It also began a programme of landlord inspections. The changes are a result of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and include stronger powers to hold landlords to account. More information about RSH’s approach is available in its document Reshaping Consumer Regulation.

2. More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website.

3. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.

4. RSH publishes gradings for consumer, governance and viability. Local authorities only receive consumer gradings. More information can be found on our How we approach regulatory judgements and gradings page.

5. We do not issue grades to small landlords (under 1,000 homes) and only publish or update regulatory judgements where we consider there to be serious weaknesses or failings in a landlord’s delivery of the outcomes of our standards.

6. For media enquiries please contact vicky.moore@rsh.gov.uk or christian.cosby@rsh.gov.uk. For general enquiries email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk