Oldham council fails to meet consumer standards as RSH criticises its operation of PFI contracts

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council has become the latest local authority to fail to meet the Regulator of Social Housing’s consumer standards.

The Greater Manchester local authority, which owns around 2,000 homes, has been handed a C3 grading by RSH, which means it has serious failings and needs to improve.

In its judgement today RSH said it had “identified serious concerns in relation to Oldham MBC’s awareness of its responsibilities as a landlord”.

It said: “Oldham MBC were unable to provide evidence-based assurance that all elements of the consumer standards were being delivered. This has been driven, in part, by how Oldham MBC has operated the two PFI agreements in place for the management of the majority of its home”

The majority of Oldham MBC homes (98%) are managed via two separate Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts. One of these is with Inspiral, a consortium including Wates Living Space and Great Places Housing Group and the other is with Oldham Retirement Housing Partnership, a subsidiary vehicle owned by Housing 21.

The RSH does not make any criticism of the organisations or consortia managing the homes themselves.

The judgement said Oldham council does not consistently assure itself that the required outcomes are being delivered for its tenants and “limited evidence” that information relating to the delivery of the consumer standard outcomes for Oldham MBC’s tenants is reported to officers or councillors.

The RSH’s inspection also found less than half of its homes have had a full stock condition survey in the last five years, while there was a lack of consistent in its reporting, tracking and oversight of health and safety.

The council was also unable to demonstrate that tenants’ views are taken into account in its decision-making about how landlord services are delivered.

The RSH said: “Overall, it is our view that Oldham MBC was not adequately assured on outcomes for its tenants and has not fully recognised the significant gaps in its assurance and the implications for its tenants.

“Oldham MBC has worked constructively with us through this process and has demonstrated that it is willing to resolve the issues.”

Elaine Taylor, cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, said the local authority “fully accepts” the findings of the “serious judgement.”

She said: “Most of the issues relate to governance and oversight. The Regulator recognises that we had already started making improvements, and we will now go further and faster.

“We are increasing staff capacity, strengthening our checks on safety information, and improving how we monitor the work carried out by our housing partners.

“We will produce an enhanced improvement plan, strengthen our governance arrangements, and work closely with tenants so they can shape the changes being made.”

Kris Peach, chief operations officer at Housing 21, said: “Our team has managed more than 1,400 homes on behalf of Oldham Council for nearly 20 years. Residents report high levels of satisfaction with their homes and the services we provide as part of our contract with the council.

“We will continue to ensure all properties are well-maintained and comply with the relevant health and safety and compliance standards and will work closely with the local authority to support it to meet its regulatory requirements in the management of the contract.” A Housing 21 spokesperson said the resident satisfaction score in the homes managed by ORHP was 94% in 2024/25.

Guy Cresswell, executive director of customer services at Great Places, said: ”‘We welcome the opportunity to work with Oldham Council and partners to continue the improvement work that has already begun in terms of strengthening its governance, oversight and assurance arrangements which sit above the delivery of this PFI contract, for which we provide housing management services. We are hugely proud of the work that has been undertaken through the Inspiral Consortium, which has invested in the homes, services and communities of Oldham since 2012.”

The RSH also issued Ealing Council a C2 rating, which means it is compliant with consumer standards but there are some weaknesses that require improvement.

The RSH found some weaknesses in the delivery of the council’s health and safety remedial activities, its repairs service, and the information it holds about tenants. The RSH said the council is “continuing to make improvements in each of these areas”.

The regulator published 30 regulatory judgments yesterday (see full list below).

Latest regulatory judgements