The Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 14 July 2026 to discuss a range of housing-related issues. Key topics included an update on repairs and performance, the council's strategy for empty homes and voids, and preparations for Awaab's Law. The committee also reviewed the supply of housing, the expansion of social rent housing, and the administration's priorities, alongside discussing the council's work programme.

Update on Repairs and Performance

The committee received an update on the council's repairs and maintenance contracts, primarily with Wates Property Services. Councillor Pete Elliott, Cabinet Member for Housing, acknowledged that residents had not always received the expected standards of service, highlighting challenges with contract management and a need for better data and accountability. He stated the council would learn from past failures, strengthen contract oversight, and consider bringing more services in-house. Councillor Danny Adilypour, a former Cabinet Member, welcomed the reported improvements but questioned the timeline for further changes to achieve the highest regulatory grades. Ros Mundy, a former chair of the Lambeth Tenants Association, voiced significant concerns about Wates' performance, citing issues with staffing levels, unmanageable workloads, and a lack of senior management presence. Georgina Shuler, a long-term council tenant, echoed these concerns and called for greater tenant and leaseholder involvement in decision-making. The committee discussed the need for improved communication and transparency regarding repairs, with a recommendation made for a report on Wates' staffing levels and contractual requirements to be sent to the Cabinet Member.

Empty Homes and Voids Strategy

Councillor Pete Elliott introduced the report on empty homes and voids, stating that reducing the number of empty council homes and the time taken to bring them back into use was a key priority. He emphasised that each empty home represented lost rent and a missed opportunity to house those in need. Councillor Danny Adilypour highlighted the importance of data cleansing and improved IT systems for managing voids, and questioned the arrangements for asset disposals to ensure the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) remained balanced. Georgina Shuler suggested that the council should consider breaking up estates if they were structurally sound, creating more council homes and developing an in-house direct labour organisation for retrofitting. She also requested the council consider showing the National Emergency Briefing Bill to councillors and employees to embed the climate emergency in policy-making. The committee discussed the need for a clear strategy and timeline for bringing empty homes back into use, with a recommendation made for a report on the number of Airbnbs and similar rentals and a report on improving void turnaround times by 50% over 12 months.

Update on Awaab's Law

The committee was updated on the council's preparations for Awaab's Law, which mandates social landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould hazards within set timeframes. Councillor Pete Elliott noted that reported damp and mould cases had increased, and that the council was moving towards a more planned, data-led approach to healthy homes. Councillor Viktor Westerdahl highlighted that poor insulation, lack of ventilation, and overcrowding were key causes of damp and mould, and that refurbishment was essential for a proper solution. Councillor Nadia Borrell raised concerns about leaseholders being prevented from upgrading their own windows due to long-term council plans, and asked about making it easier for them to do so. Councillor Tom Palmer questioned the transparency of the Savills stock condition survey, which had not been published, and its potential use in justifying inaction on repairs. The committee recommended that the Cabinet Member share the stock condition survey with the committee and that it be made publicly available. They also discussed the process for informing residents about hazard investigations and the need for a 12-month follow-up on damp and mould repairs.

Supply of Housing, Expansion of Social Rent Housing and Administration Priorities

Councillor Pete Elliott outlined the administration's priorities for increasing the supply of housing, focusing on bringing empty homes back into use, infill development on council land, and working with registered providers to deliver social homes. He expressed concerns about the council's significant debt and the reliance on private sales for cross-subsidy, advocating for a focus on council homes. Councillor Danny Adilypour stressed the need for a clear plan by the end of September, highlighting the potential of small sites and the undervaluation of council land. Councillor Joe Dharampal-Hornby questioned the council's approach to private housing and suggested a plan for the supply of private housing should also be presented. Councillor Viktor Westerdahl emphasised the importance of social rent housing and suggested mapping suitable land for new homes and analysing the cost-effectiveness of asset disposals versus retaining them for social housing. Councillor Tom Palmer raised concerns about the type of housing being built and its potential sale to offshore entities, questioning the cost-effectiveness of building projects. Councillor Nadia Burrell expressed frustration at the lack of papers for the item and questioned the financial achievability of bringing repairs in-house given the HRA's financial challenges. The committee agreed to a recommendation for a plan for increasing council homes to be presented by the end of September.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed and approved its draft work programme for the upcoming municipal year, noting that flexibility would be retained to add items at short notice. They also agreed to finalise the items for the September meeting via email correspondence and a brief Teams call.