North London council must fix 'serious failings' in housing as 'tenants were let down', regulator warns

A north London council has been ordered to make "fundamental changes" to its housing service after a watchdog uncovered what it described as "very serious failings" that left tenants at risk.Haringey Council was handed the lowest possible consumer grading by the government's Regulator of Social Housing following an inspection that revealed a backlog of almost 4,000 overdue fire safety actions, including around 1,400 considered high risk.The regulator also found that only around half of non-emergency repairs were completed during 2025/26, alongside significant backlogs involving damp and mould, poor tenant satisfaction and weak oversight of housing services.In a strongly worded judgement, the watchdog said tenants had been "let down" and warned urgent, lasting improvements were needed.The report found the council was failing to provide timely responses to complaints and had not properly informed the regulator of significant issues as they emerged.The authority was given a C4 consumer grade, reserved for landlords whose failings are considered so serious that major changes are needed to improve outcomes for residents.Kate Dodsworth, deputy chief executive of the Regulator of Social Housing, said: "This judgement sends a clear signal that tenants have been let down and that urgent and sustained improvement is needed."She added that the regulator would maintain "intensive engagement and close oversight" and use its powers if necessary to ensure improvements were delivered.In response, the council issued an apology to residents and accepted the findings in full.Jess Crowe, Haringey's corporate director for culture, strategy and communities, said: "I would like to unreservedly apologise to our tenants and leaseholders for the serious failings identified during the inspection. Our residents deserve better from their landlord."The authority has commissioned an independent review into why incomplete information was provided to the regulator and why concerns were not reported earlier.Read MoreCouncil leader Mark Blake, whose Green administration took control in May, acknowledged residents' frustrations."For tenants and leaseholders who have spent years dealing with poor repairs, ignored complaints, and concerns about safety, today's report will be deeply concerning, but not surprising," he said.He added: "While we did not create this crisis, we will prioritise solving it."