The Housing Scrutiny Committee of Camden Council met on Monday 12 January 2026 to discuss the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and rent review for 2026/27, the annual performance of housing associations, and progress on anti-social behaviour and community safety initiatives. The committee reviewed proposed rent and service charge increases for the upcoming financial year, and noted reports on housing association performance and anti-social behaviour strategies.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Rent Review 2026/27

The committee reviewed the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and rent review for 2026/27. The report highlighted significant financial challenges facing the HRA, including a £201 million loss in rental income since 2016 due to government policy changes, and rising costs for inflation, fire and building safety, damp and mould, and disrepair. To address a projected £15.2 million budget deficit, a balanced budget was proposed, including an increase in social housing rents by 4.8% (CPI + 1%) from April 2026. This increase would add an average of £7.04 per week for a two-bedroom property. The report also outlined potential additional increases for 'rent convergence' of up to £2 per week, subject to government approval.

Service charges for caretaking, CCTV, communal lighting, communal mechanical and electrical maintenance, and grounds maintenance were also proposed to increase due to inflation, with grounds maintenance seeing a 10% rise. Rents for temporary accommodation (excluding hostels) were proposed to increase to the current Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate. Other fees and charges, including resident and commercial garage rents, were also set to increase. Heating and hot water charges were proposed to be frozen at 2025/26 levels.

The committee noted that 72% of council tenants receive full or partial benefits, which would cover most of the proposed rent and service charge increases. However, concerns were raised about the potential impact on low-income households not receiving full benefit support, and the disproportionate effect on women, who constitute 62% of council tenants and are more likely to be single parents. An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was conducted, identifying potential negative impacts on older tenants, disabled residents, pregnant women, and ethnic minority groups, while also highlighting the positive impact of increased income for reinvestment in housing services and improvements. The committee was informed that engagement with District Management Committees (DMCs) was ongoing, and a new funding pot would be created to mitigate the impact of rent rises on affected households.

Housing Associations Annual Performance Report

The committee received the annual performance report for the four housing associations (HAs) with the largest stock in Camden: Riverside, Origin Housing, Notting Hill Genesis (NHG), and Clarion. The report detailed their performance in managing tenancies, maintaining properties, and developing new homes.

Key findings included:

• Sales and Investment: HAs sold a total of 35 units in 2024/25, generating £18.17 million. Investment in existing Camden stock for 2024/25 totalled £6.91 million, covering component replacements and cyclical works.
• Tenancy Management: Clarion had the longest average turnaround time for letting voids (86 days), while NHG and Clarion significantly reduced their void properties. Evictions reduced overall, but a greater proportion were for anti-social behaviour in 2024/25. Rent arrears as a percentage of the rent roll increased for most HAs, with Origin having the most effective rent collection.
• Property Maintenance: Clarion proportionally had the most member/MP and ASB enquiries, while Origin had the highest proportion of repairs-related enquiries. Riverside took the longest to respond to enquiries. Origin had the most notices served by the Council's Environmental Health team for repairs.
• Fire Safety: Riverside and Origin required fire safety works, including external wall remediation and fire door replacements.
• Damp and Mould: NHG experienced the highest number of damp and mould cases, proportionally.
• Development: HAs delivered 275 affordable housing units in 2024/25, a significant increase from previous years, driven by large schemes at Kings Cross Central and 156 West End Lane.

The committee noted the report and discussed the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) for the HAs, with Riverside and Origin generally scoring higher in overall satisfaction.

Anti-Social Behaviour and Community Safety

The committee received an update on the progress of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and Community Safety work across the borough, focusing on the Council's role as a landlord. A new ASB Policy and Procedure has been published, outlining a fair, proportionate, and transparent approach to managing ASB cases. The report highlighted a significant increase in ASB reports logged (up 95% since a communications campaign launched in June 2025) and a 25% increase in tenant satisfaction with the Council's handling of ASB in 2025/25 TSMs.

Key achievements since February 2024 include:

• 3,164 ASB reports triaged, ensuring timely responses.
• 1,834 hotspot locations targeted with joint patrols.
• 13 Estate Action Plans developed for areas most affected by ASB.
• Increased use of enforcement tools, including 7 injunctions, 5 possession orders, and 8 closure orders.
• A new ASB communications campaign led to a 95% rise in reports.

The report also detailed the outcomes of an ASB Review, which led to a single reporting point, investment in five new ASB Officers, a universal risk assessment tool, improved communication and engagement, and the integration of the Mental Health Service in-house to enhance partnership working. The committee noted the revised Rapid Deployable Camera (RDC) CCTV Protocol and the establishment of an RDC Panel.

Work Programme and Forward Plan

The committee reviewed its work programme for 2025/26 and considered forthcoming Cabinet decisions. Suggestions for future scrutiny topics included the Housing Investment Strategy update, Tenant Satisfaction Measures, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping updates, Renters' Rights Act updates, ASB updates, and Voids Performance. The committee also recommended the reappointment of the existing co-opted members – Charles Bertlin, Larissa Hope, and Vic Seedman – for the 2026/27 municipal year. The Chair thanked members, particularly Councillor Richard Cotton and Councillor Tommy Gale who were standing down, for their work over the past four years.

The meeting concluded with thanks extended to the Chair, members, and officers for their contributions.