Having a safe, warm and affordable home is one of the most important foundations for a good life. Everyone deserves somewhere to call home. That is why we have made delivering good quality homes one of our priorities in our council plan.

We have delivered stronger protections for renters, better quality housing, new council homes and more accommodation for people who are at the sharp end of the housing crisis.

We are proud of the progress being made in improving our council homes. Today, 93% of our homes meet the Decent Homes Standard, and we have launched a £425million programme to bring that figure to 100% by 2028. Earlier this year the national regulator of social housing recognised the progress residents are already seeing.

With a significant proportion of our residents relying on the private rented sector, we have taken decisive action to improve quality and safety. Our strengthened licensing schemes set higher expectations for landlords, ensuring that more homes meet clear standards for management and maintenance. Renters have also accessed dedicated rights workshops, delivered through community partners, giving them clearer guidance on what they can expect and how to seek help when things go wrong. The council is on the side of renters in the borough and will continue to crack down on rogue landlords.

We have also introduced an Article 4 Direction for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), meaning landlords must now secure planning permission before converting family homes into shared accommodation. This helps prevent overcrowding and protects the character and stability of neighbourhoods across the borough.

Our planning enforcement teams continue to take firm action against unsafe or unauthorised building work. By tackling poor conditions and unlawful conversions, officers are ensuring residents are better protected and that development across the borough meets the standards our communities deserve.

We have created 100 new, safe spaces for people needing temporary accommodation giving families in crisis better options than bed and breakfast placements and helping build a fairer, more dignified housing system for those who need support most.

We have delivered on all this work to create good homes because we understand how important a good home is for all our residents. We are on the side of people who work hard and want a decent home in our borough.