The Housing Scrutiny Commission of Leicester City Council was scheduled to discuss several key reports concerning housing safety, improvement plans, and operational performance. A significant focus was expected to be on the council's response to Awaab's Law and the broader health and safety compliance across its housing stock. The commission was also set to receive an update on the housing division's Provider Improvement Plan.

Provider Improvement Plan Update Report

The Director of Housing was scheduled to present an update on the progress of the housing division's Provider Improvement Plan (PiP). This plan was developed following a routine inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in May 2025, which resulted in a consumer grading of C3. The division is currently in an provider engagement phase with the RSH, involving regular meetings to discuss progress against the PiP's milestones and actions. The aim is to achieve compliance with the RSH's consumer standards, targeting a C2 or above rating. The report detailed 26 individual actions grouped thematically under the four consumer standards: Safety and Quality, Neighbourhood and Community, Tenancy, and Transparency, Influence and Accountability. These actions cover areas such as stock condition, repairs and maintenance, health and safety, anti-social behaviour, mutual exchanges, and complaints handling. As of December 2025, five actions were reported as fully complete, seven were rated as amber (requiring ongoing review), and the remaining 13 were rated as green, indicating they were on track.

Hazards in Housing – Summary Report in relation to LCC's Response to Awaab's Law

This report was intended to outline the requirements of Awaab's Law and detail the division's arrangements for compliance. Phase 1 of Awaab's Law, which came into effect on 27th October 2025, mandates social landlords to address emergency hazards and significant damp and mould hazards within specified timeframes. Phase 2, due in October 2026, will extend to other hazards like excess cold, heat, falls, fire, and electrical issues, with Phase 3 in 2027 covering all Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) hazards. The report acknowledged challenges in delivering all requirements by the October 2025 deadline due to resource constraints and ongoing procurement of a new mobile working solution. A phased approach to implementation was approved, focusing on responding to emergency hazards within 24 hours and significant damp and mould hazards within five working days. From April 2026, the council planned to review its approach and begin working towards starting all works within 12 weeks of a report. The report also detailed the process for handling damp and mould reports, including initial triage, inspections, and remedial works, and highlighted the financial implications, with a £170,000 growth budget approved for 2026/27 to support these efforts.

Health and Safety in LCC Properties Report

This report was presented as the first comprehensive overview of health and safety across Leicester City Council's housing division. It detailed the council's strategic approach and operational performance regarding health and safety compliance, referencing key legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Fire Safety Act 2021, and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. The report covered specific areas including:

• Gas Safety: The council aims for 100% compliance with Annual Gas Safety Checks (AGSC), governed by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. As of February 2026, performance stood at 99.70% for valid AGSCs. Challenges included tenant access, with 24% of tenants not being in for their scheduled checks.
• Electrical Safety and EICR: A mandatory 5-year cyclical Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) programme is in place, aiming for 99% compliance by December 2028. As of February 2026, 34% of domestic properties had a valid EICR. The council had allocated an additional £200,000 in 2025 to establish a dedicated Electrical Safety Team.
• Annual Asbestos Inspections: The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 require annual reinspections of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in communal areas. Of the 1552 communal areas surveyed, 1450 were found to have ACMs. As of March 2026, 651 areas were reported as on track for reinspection.
• Fire Safety: Fire safety is managed according to the Fire Safety Management Standard, with stock categorised by risk (high, medium, and low). High-risk blocks, defined as those over 18m or 7 storeys, are registered with the Building Safety Regulator. As of February 2026, 98.6% of fire inspection repairs were completed within category.
• Water Hygiene: The council adheres to regulations including the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations and HSE guidance on Legionella. All 36 blocks with communal cold water storage systems have Legionella Risk Assessments.
• Passenger Lift Safety: Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER), all 58 passenger lifts across the stock are inspected annually.

Work Programme

The commission was also scheduled to review its work programme for the remainder of the 2025-2026 period. This included noting progress on previously agreed actions and considering any additional items for future discussion. Items noted for future consideration included updates on the Housing Regulator, Awaab's Law implementation, and Health and Safety compliance.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The commission was due to confirm the minutes of its previous meeting held on Tuesday, 17th March 2026. These minutes included a statement and questions from a member of the public regarding systemic governance risks in housing, particularly concerning complaints handling, procedural compliance, and oversight transparency. The statement raised concerns about response timescales, escalation safeguards, the independence of complaint investigations, and data governance. The council's responses to these questions were also appended to the minutes.

Other Scheduled Items

The agenda also included standard procedural items such as welcoming attendees, noting apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and chair's announcements. Additionally, there was provision for questions, representations, and statements of case from the public, as well as the reporting of any petitions received.