The Cabinet (Housing) Committee met on Wednesday 16 September 2026 to discuss the performance and compliance of Stockport Homes Group, alongside the borough's homelessness strategy and related policies. Key decisions included endorsing reports on Stockport Homes' performance and compliance, approving a new five-year homelessness strategy, and adopting a policy for discharging housing duties into the private rented sector and using out-of-borough accommodation.

Stockport Homes Group Performance Update

The committee received an update on Stockport Homes Group's (SHG) performance for 2025-26. Overall performance was described as strong, with SHG achieving upper quartile benchmarking across most indicators and maintaining high levels of compliance in key safety areas. However, areas requiring continued focus included the legacy backlog of fire risk assessment actions, repairs, complaints handling, and customer experience. The report highlighted improvements in repairs performance and customer satisfaction with repairs, as well as progress in implementing Awaab's Law¹. The committee endorsed the report and its accompanying appendix.

Housing Regulation Self-Assessment 2025-26

This report provided an update on social housing regulation and presented the annual self-assessment of compliance against the Regulator of Social Housing's² Regulatory Standards. The Council achieved a C1 judgement from the Regulator in May 2026, the highest possible consumer regulation grading. Compliance was reported across all applicable standards, including safety and quality, tenant engagement, and neighbourhood management. The report also noted preparatory work for significant regulatory changes taking effect from October 2026, specifically the new Competence and Conduct Standard. The committee endorsed the report and its appendix.

Homelessness and Housing Need, including the Out of Borough Placement Review and Discharge of Duty into Private Rented Sector Policy

The committee reviewed an update on homelessness and housing need in Stockport, including the Out of Borough Placement Pilot. The pilot has helped discharge homelessness duties by making final offers of suitable accommodation outside Stockport where appropriate. Thirty households had been rehoused through this pilot, with most placements within the Greater Manchester area. The committee approved the Discharge of Duty into the Private Rented Sector and Use of Out-of-Borough Accommodation Policy for an initial 12-month period, subject to a review after that time. The policy prioritises keeping residents in Stockport where reasonably practicable, especially those with significant health, educational, or care needs, but acknowledges that housing supply constraints sometimes necessitate securing accommodation elsewhere. The report also highlighted the work of the homelessness prevention team and the challenges of rising homelessness, increasing housing need, and growing temporary accommodation costs.

Homelessness Strategy 2026-2031

The committee approved Stockport's new five-year homelessness strategy, which sets out the borough's approach to homelessness prevention, rough sleeping, and housing support until 2031. The strategy responds to rising demand driven by housing affordability, increasing rents, limited supply, and wider cost-of-living pressures. It is built around four priorities: preventing homelessness through early intervention, supporting the health and well-being of people experiencing homelessness, improving access to safe and sustainable accommodation, and reducing rough sleeping. A detailed action plan accompanies the strategy, outlining clear performance measures and partnership responsibilities. The strategy emphasises the link between homelessness and housing supply and affordability, and places significant emphasis on increasing affordable housing delivery and improving access to the private rented sector.

Stockport Homes Group Annual Compliance Report 2025-26

This report provided assurance that statutory building safety and compliance obligations are being effectively managed across the housing portfolio. Compliance levels remained extremely high across the Big Six safety areas: gas, electrical, fire, asbestos, legionella, and lift safety. Performance in 2025-26 achieved 100% compliance in gas safety, fire risk assessment, asbestos, legionella, and lift safety, with electrical compliance at 99.97%. The report also updated members on progress following a self-referral to the regulator regarding fire risk assessment actions, with all previously unidentified actions now surveyed and being progressed. Work continues on compliance notices issued by the Building Safety Regulator relating to high-rise blocks. The committee approved and endorsed the report.

Stockport Homes Group Delivery Plan 25-26 Outcomes Update

This report provided the final annual update on the delivery of objectives within Stockport Homes Group's (SHG) 2021-2026 Delivery Plan. Key achievements included the C1 regulatory grading, implementation of government improvements following the Deloitte review, the launch of six neighbourhood deep dives, development of a new customer experience strategy, delivery of 147 new homes, and increased homelessness prevention activity. The report also acknowledged challenges, particularly around fire safety compliance, housing pressures, and affordability. Looking ahead, SHG has adopted a new delivery plan and a thrive framework for 2026-2031, with a continued focus on safe homes, customer satisfaction, inclusion, transformation, and partnership working. The committee approved the report and its associated appendix.