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Welcome to the latest edition of the Housing Improvement e-bulletin.
Over the past year, we have been making much needed improvements to Newham's housing services. And this is where we bring you the latest on all the progress we've made.
You can help us decide what topics to cover in this newsletter so please keep sending your questions to AskMichael@newham.gov.uk |
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Click on the image to jump to the story. |
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As you may know, after an inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in May 2024, we received a grade of C4 - the lowest possible grade, meaning our housing service was failing to meet acceptable standards.
Read the RSH findings in full and our plan of action to address them
After spending six months coming up with a plan of action, we’ve spent the past year addressing these issues and you can read more details about some of the improvements we've made below.
We have now agreed a Voluntary Undertaking with the RSH. This is a legal commitment to make the promised improvements to our service in the time frames agreed. We continue to be open and transparent about our progress, sharing regular updates (including this bulletin) and making lasting changes you can see and trust.
We will bring you more updates soon. |
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The Resident Challenge Board (RCB) has been created to give residents a strong voice in improving Newham’s housing services.
Although work continues, we want to share some of the progress made in these areas.
Here are four key challenges the Board has set us in the Housing Services Improvement Plan. Click on each one to find out how we’re doing. Over the past year, the RCB has become a valued part of the improvement programme. We thank them for their contribution and look forward to continuing to work alongside them.
Here’s what our Challenge Board Members have to say
The Board will continue to monitor services and suggest improvements. You can find more information and see their recommendations on our co-create website. |
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Our new estate walkabouts and housing surgeries are two of the ways we are involving residents in our improvement plan.
The monthly Housing Drop-In Surgeries are open, friendly and informal spaces giving residents the chance to speak directly with housing staff. Since launching in February, three surgeries have already taken place.
Here are some upcoming scheduled surgeries:
Monday 22 June 6pm to 8pm 2026 Katherine Road Community Centre, 254 Katherine Rd, E7 8PW
Thursday 16th July 6pm to 8pm 2026 St Marks Community Centre, 218 Tollgate Rd, E6 5YA
Residents have highlighted: - quicker responses
- improvements to communal areas
- the opportunity to get to know the teams supporting their neighbourhoods.
Many said the Housing Surgeries were extremely valuable and would like to see them held more regularly.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far - your feedback is helping shape future improvements to housing services across Newham.
If you would like to know more about our resident engagement activities please email getinvolved.housing@newham.gov.uk |
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Take part in our consultation: Newham's asset management strategy |
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To make it easier for residents to report repairs and have them seen to as quickly as possible, Newham’s Repairs Contact Centre (RCC): - has recruited more staff with the right knowledge and skills
- has invested in staff training and development
- has launched a dedicated Damp and Mould - First Point of Contact service including both telephone and online contact options
- now oversees our online repairs portal making it easier for residents to report issues digitally and helping to improve response times.
Thanks to these changes, in April, the Repairs Contact Centre reported reduced average waiting times of under three minutes.
Report a repair
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Fire doors (including your front door) help prevent fire and smoke from spreading through the building and keep you and your neighbours safe. Please make sure they are kept closed and never tamper with self-closing devices.
It’s also important to keep communal areas, such as corridors and stairways, free from clutter. Clear walkways help people leave the building quickly in an emergency and allow emergency services to gain access if needed.
Since the introduction of the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) Regulations last month, we have been identifying residents living in high-rise blocks who may need extra support during an emergency. This helps us create Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (R-PEEPs).
If you think you may need support in an emergency, please contact Housing Services so we can help keep you safe.
Find out more about fire safety |
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If you receive a letter requesting access to your property for a council officer to carry out some safety checks, please do not ignore it as its a vital service to make sure your homes are safe. Please do your best to be home at the allocated time.
If the suggested time is not possible for you, call us on 020 8430 2000 and we’ll find a way to work around you. |
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Monthly updates on how we're doing
As part of our promise to improve your homes, we want to be open and honest about our progress and where we still need to do better. We now share a monthly snapshot so you can quickly see how we’re performing in the areas that matter most to you. It shows what’s improving, what still needs work, and what we’re doing about it.
Here is a summary of our latest performance up until April 2026:
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Our goal is to make sure all homes remain safe, well-maintained and comfortable, and to address any problems as quickly as possible. |
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Useful contacts and links |
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Copyright © 2025 London Borough of Newham, All rights reserved. |
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Our mailing address is: London Borough of Newham, Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, London, E16 2QU. |
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