The Housing Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Housing Ombudsman's annual report, the Housing Revenue Account budget, the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, the response to the Homelessness Scrutiny Panel recommendations, and the Homes and Community Directorate's performance. The committee was also scheduled to review its work programme.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on the council's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy. The report noted 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 following the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017¹. The strategy was developed following a 14-week public consultation. The report set out the council's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy for the next 5 years and highlighted some of the key actions that would be taken by the council and its partners to help prevent and address homelessness. The four key priorities of the strategy were listed as:

• Preventing homelessness and rough sleeping
• Working together to provide easy to access, person centred, inclusive and responsive services
• Securing more housing for people that is accessible, affordable and long term
• Campaigning for change nationally and sharing learning

The report also detailed new planned initiatives including reviews of Camden's Allocation Scheme, the Homeless Young Persons Protocol, Camden's Intermediate Housing Strategy and the Housing Renewal Assistance Policy.

The report stated that over the next 5 years, the council intended to buy back an estimated 280 family-sized homes, with 26 properties already purchased by the council, and that it would lobby to expand Camden's Housing First programme.

Housing Ombudsman Annual Complaint Handling Report

The committee was scheduled to discuss 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 Housing Ombudsman requires all landlords to produce a report annually, containing key elements such as an annual self-assessment, analysis of housing complaints performance, findings of non-compliance, service improvements made, the Housing Ombudsman Annual Report on the Landlord, and any other relevant reports. The report pack included the Housing Ombudsman Landlord Report for Camden Council 2024-25, which contains data, feedback and recommendations based on Camden Council's performance. The report pack stated that the council had accepted its failings which led to a Special Investigation Report, and had worked proactively with the Ombudsman providing full disclosure of all relevant material. The report pack noted that the Ombudsman had confirmed they were completely satisfied that all recommendations had been met, and that the recommendations met three main areas of concern; complaint handling, property condition and repair and how vulnerable residents are dealt with.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Update

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report providing an update on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2026/27 budget. The report stated that the council is required to set a balanced HRA budget each year and set levels of rent and service charges. The report noted that HRAs across the country are struggling to set balanced budgets short and medium term due to the many changes made to the self-financing model, and that it has been calculated that the HRA has lost £201m of rental income since 2016. The report stated that the main source of income for HRA is from social rents and the increases in rents are limited to the Rent Standard, which for 2026/27 has been confirmed as Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 1%. The report also noted that in the July 2025 Spending Review, the government announced that there will be 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. The report stated that in the absence of any external funding, the council will need to continue to take difficult decisions, and that the council continues to actively work with central Government as part of the Secure the Future of Council Housing Coalition.

Response to the Homelessness Scrutiny Panel Recommendations

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report setting out 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. The report stated that the Homelessness Scrutiny Panel was set up in September 2023 to conduct a deep dive analysis into homelessness services across Camden, and that the report provided an update on the initial officer response to those recommendations and any relevant commentary. The report noted that in 2024/25, Camden spent £39 million on its homelessness and rough sleeping services.

Insight, Learning and Impact Report: Homes and Community Directorate

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report focusing on the performance in Quarter 2 (Q2) 2025-26 for each division across the Homes and Communities Directorate. The report was divided into three main sections: a summary table highlighting key responses from services, a more detailed narrative of the individual service responses, and a data dashboard. The report pack stated that all Camden Council Directors were asked to provide a narrative covering key areas of challenge, opportunity, and learning.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report suggesting a possible work programme for the scrutiny committee.