RSH issues first consumer grades for two G15 members

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has issued Guinness and Peabody their first consumer gradings. 

The two landlords, both members of the group of large London housing associations, had their governance and viability grades of G1 and V2 sustained, while Guinness was given a C1 as its first consumer grading.

Peabody, however, was given a C2, with the RSH’s inspection finding “weaknesses in the provision of an effective, efficient and timely repairs and maintenance service”, although it acknowledged “early signs of improvement”.

It also found that improvement was needed to ensure target timescales were met in managing damp, mould and condensation cases, and that the landlord needed to “improve its understanding” of the diverse needs of tenants in order to ensure it delivered “fair and equitable outcomes”.

Peabody said that the C2 rating was “in line with expectations” and chief executive Ian McDermott acknowledged that they “need to do better”.

He said the regulator’s assessment was “consistent with our own views and plans to improve” as it entered the second year of a three-year strategy to improve services.

Caroline Corby, group chair at Peabody, said: “This inspection under the new consumer standards provides a clear and helpful assessment of our performance.

“This year we’ve made progress and are laying the foundations for further improvement, but resident satisfaction is still lower than we would all like,” added Corby.

“However, we have clear plans to reduce service failures and boost standards for the residents we serve.”

Meanwhile, the regulator issued upgraded udgements for two local authorities. Castle Point Borough Council has been upgraded from C4 to C3, while North Kesteven District Council has been upgraded from C3 to C2.

The RSH said its upgrade for Essex-based Castle Point, which was downgraded to C4 in December 2024, showed that the council had made progress, “particularly regarding the safety of tenants’ homes”, but that serious failings remained and improvement required.

“Castle Point has now provided evidence of its ability to put matters right, which it failed to do when RSH gave it a C4 judgement,” said the RSH.

Meanwhile, North Kesteven in Lincolnshire, which was graded C3 in July 2025, has been upgraded after “demonstrating it had improved its understanding of the condition of its homes and compliance with the Decent Homes Standard”.

Kate Dodsworth, RSH chief of regulatory engagement, said: “Landlords must have the capacity and skills to properly diagnose the issues and their root cause, and put in place a timely, credible action plan to deliver improvement.

“Safety of tenants’ homes is our clear priority and where we identify serious failings, we expect landlords to act quickly to protect their tenants by prioritising the most urgent health and safety issues.

“As set out in our guidance, these changes are fundamental and take time to embed as rebuilding relationships with tenants will be intensive and gradual. But at the same time, it provides landlords with an important opportunity to involve tenants and secure lasting change.”

City of York Council and Newlon Housing Trust also received first consumer grades of C2, while Portus Supported Housing Limited received an interim regulatory judgement, confirming G3 and V3 gradings and “serious failings” in its delivery of the outcomes of the rent standard.

Portus was created by a transfer of engagements from Westmoreland Supported Housing into Bespoke Supportive Tenancies in December 2025. The RSH said Portus “continues to positively engage” to address failings previously identified in each of those predecessors.