Regulatory engagement
Self-referral for breach of the Home Standard
In February 2022, the council wrote to the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and made a voluntary self-referral for a potential breach under the Home Standard (known as the Safety and Quality Standard since 2024).
Our internal fire safety audit concluded that we did not have effective controls in relation to our controls for fire safety and identified that:
- a significant number of council properties did not have in-date FRA
- there was no process to record or track FRA remedial actions
- there were failings across gas, electrical, asbestos and water safety and no monitoring of remedial works
Regulatory notice
On 11 May 2022, the regulator served Ealing with a regulatory notice for breach of part 1.2 of the Home Standard, the regulatory route being reactive engagement
The notice acknowledged that while the council had improved the position with respect to FRAs, we were in the process of validating fire safety data to make sure that all properties requiring an FRA have one in place. and work and remedial works were being appropriately monitored and completed
The regulatory notice also noted health and safety compliance failings in electrical, asbestos and water safety including no evidence of monitoring of remedial works
The council was not able to provide complete assurance on data accuracy for health and safety
Voluntary undertaking
In May 2022, the council carried out a voluntary undertaking (VU) to address the issues and implemented an initial recovery plan, with the aim of delivering full compliance by April 2023.
Voluntary undertaking not delivered
In May 2025, the regulator confirmed in our safety and quality monthly meeting, that the VU had not been delivered.