Tenants and leaseholders left worse off as accountability disappears
Wandsworth Council’s decision to abolish its dedicated housing department has sparked anger among residents and opposition councillors, who say the move will leave tenants and leaseholders worse off and weaken accountability within the Town Hall.
The change follows a damning Regulator of Social Housing report in February 2025, which gave the Council a C3 rating – the second-lowest possible – concluding that “there are serious failings and significant improvement is needed.”1
Rather than addressing those failings, the Labour administration has folded housing into a larger, multi-purpose “mega-department”, where it sits alongside a range of unrelated services. There is now no senior director solely responsible for housing, tenants or leaseholders.
Critics say the restructure dilutes responsibility and leaves residents with no clear line of accountability. The decision was also taken without any public consultation, with leaseholders and tenants only learning of the change after it had been approved.
Rising costs, declining service
Since Labour took control of Wandsworth in 2022, council rents have risen by the maximum allowed each year, while leaseholders have faced sharp increases in service charges. Despite these rising costs, satisfaction among residents has fallen sharply.
Council budget data shows that of every £1 spent by the Housing Revenue Account2:
- 15p goes on debt interest
- 12p on staff costs
- 10p on new homes
- Just 49p on repairs and maintenance
Residents say the impact is being felt across estates, with ongoing complaints about broken lifts, damp and mould, delayed repairs, and poor maintenance. Reports of fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour have also increased.
“Housing is no longer a priority”
Opposition councillors argue that the restructure is a mistake at precisely the wrong time.
“Labour’s decision to abolish Wandsworth’s dedicated housing department means council tenants and leaseholders no longer have a senior director at the Town Hall directly accountable to them,” said Cllr Matthew Corner, Conservative Spokesperson for Housing.
“The timing is perverse – just months after the housing service was rated ‘failing’ by the independent regulator. The council should be investing in improvement, not dismantling the structures that could put things right. Residents deserve better than higher rents, poorer services and decisions made behind closed doors.”
The Council’s approach to home ownership has also raised eyebrows. During a Full Council meeting in December 2023, Cllr Angela Ireland, Labour Cabinet Member, said: “As for owning your property, as anybody knows, a leaseholder owns the exclusive right to occupy the space – you don’t own anything.”3
Conservatives pledge to reverse changes
Wandsworth Conservatives have said that if they regain control of the Council next year, they will re-establish a stand-alone housing department headed by a senior director accountable to tenants and leaseholders.
“Housing should be a core priority for the Council, not an afterthought buried in bureaucracy,” said Cllr Corner. “We would restore clear leadership, transparency, and accountability so residents get the service they deserve.”
- 1[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/london-borough-of-wandsworth/london-borough-of-wandsworth-00bj-regulatory-judgement-26-february-2025
- 2Question 45, Full Council 11th December 2024 https://democracy.wandsworth.gov.uk/documents/b25694/Answers to written questions to the Leader and Cabinet Members 11th-Dec-2024 19.30 Council.pdf?T=9
- 3Full Council 13th December 2023 https://democracy.wandsworth.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=296&MId=8795&Ver=4
