West Northamptonshire Council to Bring 11,500 Social Homes Back In‑House After Safety Failings

Council votes to take direct control of 11,500 social homes

The Reform UK–led cabinet at West Northamptonshire Council has approved a phased plan to bring the management of its 11,500 social homes back under direct council control after a report identified "serious failings" in how Northamptonshire Partnership Homes (NPH) met home-safety and quality standards.

The motion, passed unanimously at a council meeting on Tuesday, would see the council assume responsibility by April 2027, subject to approval from the secretary of state.

Why the change?

Inspectors found that key performance figures at NPH were being reported inaccurately and that one fifth of the properties did not meet the decent homes standard. NPH currently manages repairs, maintenance and tenant support in Northampton.

Key figures: NPH employs about 350 staff and operates with an annual budget of roughly £67m, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The proposed transfer has an estimated upfront cost of £1.6m, with the council projecting potential annual savings of around £85,000 from 2027 through efficiencies.

Staff, tenants and consultation

Under the proposed plan, all NPH employees would transfer to the council. The council reported that 60% of tenants and leaseholders who responded to a consultation supported moving landlord services into council control.

Council leader Mark Arnull said: "The staff at NPH are an absolute asset, but there are some issues about how things are being run and they're going to need to be addressed very, very soon." He described the proposal as one of the most significant papers of the administration's early years.

Opposition concerns

Opposition councillors warned of financial and reputational risks. Rosie Herring, a former housing cabinet member under the previous Conservative administration, questioned whether service improvements could be achieved without additional spending and noted that the £1.6m transfer cost was the only concrete figure presented so far.

Labour's West Northants group leader Sally Keeble criticised the options as a "binary choice of in or out based on very little information," and warned that an already acute housing crisis in Northampton could worsen if the transfer or its implementation are mishandled.

Next steps

The council says the move aims to strengthen accountability and compliance with national housing regulations, improve safety and transparency, and raise long-term service quality for tenants. The transfer timetable and detailed financial case will need final sign‑off by the secretary of state before the council can proceed.

Note: Coverage originally referenced reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.