The Housing and Homelessness Policy and Accountability Committee of Hammersmith and Fulham Council met on Wednesday 1 July 2026 to discuss the performance of the council's housing service and its plans for the upcoming year. The meeting's agenda included a review of the housing service's current position and previous year's performance, as well as the proposed work programme for 2026/27.

Introduction to Hammersmith and Fulham's Housing Service and Update on Previous Year's Performance

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the Hammersmith and Fulham Housing Service, which manages nearly 17,000 properties, including homes for tenants and leaseholders, and sheltered housing. The report detailed the service's transformation programme over the past three years, focusing on repairs, resident and building safety, and housing and estate management. It also highlighted efforts to strengthen front-line homelessness and temporary accommodation services.

A significant part of the discussion was expected to centre on the Housing Service's performance, particularly in light of increased scrutiny following the Grenfell Tower fire. The report noted that the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) had awarded Hammersmith and Fulham's Housing Service its highest possible 'C1' rating on 13 May 2026. This rating signifies that the council is among a select group of local authorities recognised for providing a safe, high-quality, and resident-focused housing service. The report detailed specific areas of strength, including:

• Consistently meeting timescales for emergency and non-emergency repairs.
• The provision of safe and decent homes, with 98.8% of housing meeting the Decent Homes Standard.
• The council's approach to treating tenants with fairness and respect, leading to improved tenant confidence.
• Strengthened oversight of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and hate crime.
• Fair, prompt, and effective complaints handling.
• Accurate records of home conditions through stock condition surveys.
• An Behind Every Door approach to hazard identification and resident safety.

The report also provided an update on the repairs service, noting that over £1 million per week is invested in homes, with a particular focus on fire safety. The service has seen improvements, with over 92% of repairs completed within target times. The report detailed performance metrics for work in progress, void properties, damp and mould cases, and aids and adaptation cases. It also outlined resident engagement in the repairs service through various forums and the co-production of a Repairs Charter.

Compliance performance was also a key topic, with the report showing strong assurance across six main compliance areas and carbon monoxide detectors for April and May 2026. The service is also working with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to certify higher-risk buildings.

Updates on Neighbourhoods and Community Services were also scheduled, including a transformation to a six-day operation for housing management and improvements in cleaning and grounds maintenance. The report noted ongoing work to manage anti-social behaviour and a recruitment drive to address staffing issues in the South of the borough.

The report also touched upon service improvement and governance, including satisfaction surveys, improvements to the customer journey for residents in temporary accommodation, and efforts to enhance communication. The committee was also to be briefed on the Housing and Homelessness Work Programme for 2026/27, which includes plans to maintain the C1 inspection standard, respond to updated legislation such as Awaab's Law Phase 2, and deliver the Renters Rights Act. Financial pressures on both the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and General Fund were acknowledged, with a commitment to maintaining robust financial governance.

The Committee's Terms of Reference

The committee was scheduled to note its terms of reference, which outline its principal functions and scope. These include developing policy, monitoring administration and spending, reviewing the impact of decisions and policies, and scrutinising relevant Cabinet members. The scope covers all aspects of housing, provision of homes, and tackling homelessness.

Briefing Note on Scrutiny and the Role of Policy and Accountability Committees

A briefing note was to be presented to members on the role of scrutiny and Policy and Accountability Committees (PACs) within local government. This note would explain the purpose of scrutiny, which is to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making, and to hold the Cabinet to account. It would also detail the core functions of PACs, including performance monitoring, policy review and development, and decision scrutiny. The briefing would emphasise an evidence-based approach and cross-party collaboration as key to effective scrutiny.

Draft Work Programme for 2026/27

The committee was also scheduled to consider its draft work programme for the municipal year 2026/27. This programme outlines the key topics that the committee intends to scrutinise throughout the year, including reviews of Tenant Satisfaction Measures, the management of temporary accommodation, and the Housing Revenue Account budget. Future meetings were scheduled for 17 November 2026, 1 February 2027, and 21 April 2027.