Citizens Advice Barnet has said 40% of the housing problems being reported regarded homelessness.
In the wake of Barnet Council’s ‘C1’ grading from the Regulator of Social Housing, last month, the highest possible result, the charity’s local branch reported “relatively low” problems regarding local authority housing.
A spokesperson for Citizens Advice Barnet said: “Problems with housing are consistently in the top three most common issues we see, yet those relating to local authority housing, specifically, are relatively low, comprising less than 10% of such issues over the last twelve months.
“A far bigger problem we see is housing insecurity: over the last year, over 40% of housing problems people came to us for help with were to do with homelessness or threatened homelessness.
“In the advent of the Renters’ Rights Act, we expect this situation to get worse before it gets better with landlords utilising ‘no-fault’ evictions before the act comes into effect in May.”
The grading means the council’s housing arm, Barnet Homes, is meeting the regulator’s standards for tenants.
According to the council, the inspection involved the regulator speaking to tenants and observing meetings with Barnet Homes and resident boards.
Welcoming the grade, cabinet member for homes and regeneration, Ross Houston, said there was still “much to do” to ensure tenant’s received “the best possible service”.
He said: “We recognise the important contribution the council’s tenants make in holding Barnet Homes and the council to account and in helping to shape the housing services and influence decision-making, and that the inspection result reflects this area of strength.
“The judgement comes shortly after the council’s decision to retain Barnet Homes for a further ten years from April 2026, and we look forward to the continued delivery of housing services that are responsive to tenants’ needs.”
Local Democracy Reporter Grace Howarth covers the London boroughs of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), reporting on local government, housing, planning and community issues.
