The Camden Council Housing Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on 9 December 2025 to discuss the Housing Ombudsman's annual report, the Housing Revenue Account budget, the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, responses to the Homelessness Scrutiny Panel recommendations, and the Homes and Communities Directorate's performance.

Housing Ombudsman Annual Complaint Handling Report

The committee will be given the Housing Ombudsman Annual Complaint Handling and Service Improvement Report and Complaint Handling Code Self-Assessment for the London Borough of Camden for 2024-25. The report is required by the Housing Ombudsman for all landlords and includes:

• An annual self-assessment.
• Analysis of housing complaints performance.
• Findings of non-compliance.
• Service improvements made.
• The Housing Ombudsman's annual report on the landlord.
• Other relevant reports.

The report includes consideration of the Housing Ombudsman's Paragraph 49 Investigation into the council's handling of leaks, damp, mould complaints and repairs. The report pack includes the agreed final action plan, and the full report. The report pack notes that the governing bodies for this annual report have been agreed as the Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee and Housing Scrutiny Committee. The report asks that the Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee and Housing Scrutiny Committee provide a response to the report, which the Housing Ombudsman requires the council to publish alongside the self-assessment.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Update

The committee will receive an update on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2026/27 budget. The report pack notes that the decision report will be shared at Housing Scrutiny on 12 January and at a cabinet meeting on 14 January 2026. The report pack states that HRAs across the country are struggling to set balanced budgets because of changes to the self-financing model¹ and that the HRA has lost £201m of rental income since 2016 versus what it would have received if the policy had been kept consistent at CPI + 1%. The report pack also notes that in the July 2025 Spending Review, the government announced a 10-year rent settlement for social housing from 1 April 2026, in which rents will be permitted to increase by CPI +1% per annum, and that the government launched a consultation seeking views on 'Rent Convergence', which would allow rents that are currently below 'formula rent' to increase by an additional amount each year, over and above the CPI +1% limit, until they 'converge' with formula rent.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

The committee will consider the council's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2025-2030. The report pack states that the strategy is refreshed every 5 years and builds on the previous 2019-2024 strategy. The report pack notes that producing a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy is a statutory requirement for local authorities, reiterated in guidance provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) following the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. The report pack states that the strategy is underpinned by the following four key priorities:

• Prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.
• Work together to provide easy to access, person-centred, inclusive and responsive services.
• Secure more housing for people that is accessible, affordable and long term.
• Campaign for change nationally and share learning.

The report pack includes the results of a 14-week public consultation.

Response to the Homelessness Scrutiny Panel Recommendations

The committee will discuss the council's response to the recommendations made by the Homelessness Scrutiny Panel on 22 February 2024, following a deep dive into homelessness services across Camden.

Insight, Learning and Impact Report

The committee will consider the Insight, Learning and Impact Report for the Homes and Communities Directorate for Quarter 2 of 2025-26. The report pack notes that directors have been asked to provide a narrative covering key areas of challenge, opportunity, and learning.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

The committee will discuss its work programme and forward plan.