Wealden District Council has been recognised as one of England’s best performing council landlords after receiving the highest grade, C1, from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).
Wealden is the only council landlord across Sussex and Brighton to hold a C1 grade, placing it among just 20% of councils in England to achieve the top rating. The award follows a detailed 5-month long inspection by the RSH who found that the council delivers strongly against all four consumer standards.
Inspectors praised the Council’s understanding of its homes and tenants and how it uses tenant feedback to shape services. Repairs were highlighted as a particular strength, alongside good health and safety performance, meaningful tenant involvement and effective learning from complaints. The Council also identifies issues and puts plans in place to address them, with tenants treated fairly and with respect.
Other strengths included improvements to anti-social behaviour services, strong partnership working and effective support to help tenants stay in their homes, backed by a five-year programme of improvements to council homes.
Safety and Quality Standard
The Council meets the requirements of the Safety and Quality Standard.
- Stock condition surveys, including HHSRS assessments, have been completed for approximately 79% of homes, supported by other compliance information.
- A clear programme is in place to achieve full survey coverage by March 2027.
- More than 99% of homes meet the Decent Homes Standard, with stock condition data used to target investment and improvements.
- Health and safety systems are in place, with performance and risks actively monitored.
- Electrical safety compliance stood at 90% during the inspection, with a target of 100% by the end of 2026.
- Risks such as damp, mould and condensation are understood and managed through targeted action and increased oversight from councillors, tenants and officers.
- The repairs and maintenance service was found to be effective, efficient and timely, with high completion rates within published timescales and few outstanding repairs
Neighbourhood and Community Standard
The Council meets the requirements of the Neighbourhood and Community Standard.
- Effective partnership working helps prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour and hate incidents.
- Tenants have several accessible ways to report concerns, supported by clear policies.
- Information is used effectively to provide targeted and proportionate responses that support tenants and communities.
Tenancy Standard
The Council meets the requirements of the Tenancy Standard.
- Homes are allocated and managed fairly and transparently through a structured system, supported by clear policies and verification processes.
- Tenancies are appropriate to the accommodation, individual household needs and the sustainability of the wider community.
- Proactive, targeted support is provided through local services and multi-agency working to help tenants sustain their tenancies.
Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard
The Council meets the requirements of the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard, with tenants treated fairly and respectfully and reporting that they feel listened to and valued.
- Tenant information is used to tailor services, with plans in place to address remaining data gaps and strengthen understanding of tenants’ needs.
- Tenants have meaningful opportunities to influence and scrutinise services through consultations, local groups, focus groups and the independent Wealden and Tenants Together Board.
- Tenant feedback informs decision-making and service improvements, with clear communication about how views have been considered.
- Clear and accessible information about services and performance is provided through the website, newsletters and communications adapted to individual needs.
- Complaints are handled fairly, promptly and in line with the Housing Ombudsman’s timescales, with learning used to improve services and tenant satisfaction.
This FAQ explains what the Regulator of Social Housing’s inspection means for tenants, how the judgement was reached and what will happen next.
Who is the Regulator of Social Housing?
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is an independent body responsible for regulating social landlords in England. It checks that landlords provide safe, good-quality and well-managed homes and services and meet the required standards.
What are the Consumer Standards?
Safety and Quality Standard:
homes must be safe, well maintained and of a good quality.
Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard:
landlords must be open with tenants, treat them fairly and respectfully, listen to their views and be accountable for the services they provide.
Neighbourhood and Community Standard: landlords must work with tenants and partners to help keep neighbourhoods safe and well maintained.
Tenancy Standard: tenancies must be allocated and managed fairly, with appropriate support to help tenants sustain their homes.
Why was the inspection carried out?
The inspection formed part of the RSH’s planned programme of inspections. Large social landlords are normally inspected at least once every four years. The inspection provides a snapshot of how well a landlord is delivering the outcomes of the Consumer Standards at that time.
What did the inspection involve?
The RSH reviewed a range of evidence about our housing services. This included our website, our tenant publications, performance information, policies and strategies, and reports. They also interviewed tenants, councillors, Wealden and Tenants Together Board members, senior housing staff and observed meetings.
What does the regulatory judgement mean?
The regulatory judgement is the RSH’s published, evidence-based assessment of how well a social landlord is delivering the outcomes of the Consumer Standards. It summarises the RSH’s findings and any areas where further improvement is needed.
What do the consumer grades mean?
- C1: The landlord is delivering the outcomes of the Consumer Standards and has systems in place to identify and address issues.
- C2: The landlord is delivering some of the required outcomes, but there are weaknesses and improvement is needed.
- C3: There are serious failings and significant improvement is needed.
- C4: There are very serious failings and fundamental change is needed.
What is a C1 grade?
- A C1 grading is the highest Consumer Standards judgement that can be awarded by the Regulator of Social Housing.
What does this mean for tenants?
- The judgement provides independent assurance that the RSH found that the Council is meeting all four consumer standards.
What happens next?
We will review the RSH’s findings, and continue to improve our services. We will continue to collect data on our tenants’ needs through our Help us to help you survey, and maintain inspection and compliance programmes for all our homes. Progress will be monitored through our normal governance and performance arrangements, and we will provide the RSH with information when required.
How can tenants help us to continue to improve
While awarding the highest rating, the RSH highlighted the importance of continuing to strengthen our service. In particular, we must continue the collection of tenant profile information to help us ensure we understand tenants’ diverse needs and maintain detailed knowledge of our homes.
This is already a priority for the council and work is underway to ensure services continue to meet the needs of all tenants.
To help us with this, please complete the survey online at: Help Us, to Help you. Knowing more about you will help us tailor our housing services according to your specific needs. If you need the survey form in another format, please contact us on 01323 443322.
In addition, if you are contacted about us carrying out a survey of your home please allow us access or tell us when it is convenient for us to visit. If you need to re-arrange a booked appointment, please make sure that you contact us to let us know on 01323 443375.
How will tenants be kept informed?
We will share clear updates about the judgement and our progress through our usual tenant communications including our newsletters. Tenants will continue to have opportunities to give feedback through focus groups, surveys and consultations, complaints, resident groups and other engagement activities. Their feedback will help us decide priorities and check whether changes are making a difference.
Where can I read the full judgement?
The full inspection report is available:
Regulatory judgements and enforcement notices – GOV.UK