Tenants and leaseholders to help improve housing standards in Wandsworth 

The board is part of the council’s pledge to give residents more of a voice in improving standards and performance in housing services.  

The first meeting of the board on 20 July marks an important step in strengthening oversight of the improvement programme for council homes, and for increasing resident involvement in how progress is scrutinised.   

Residents will be able to see and scrutinise the progress being made, while the new independent Chair of the HIT Board, Ashley Hook, will be tasked with overseeing actions. 

Councillor Matthew Corner, Cabinet Member for Housing at Wandsworth Council, said: “Improving our housing service is a key priority for Wandsworth Council. We are taking decisive action to deliver changes quickly, with strong oversight and clear accountability from residents. 

“We want tenants and leaseholders to play a central role in shaping these improvements. Their voices will help us focus on what matters most and support the delivery of better housing services across Wandsworth, both now and in the future.” 

Ashley Hook, Chair of the Housing Improvement and Transformation Board, said: "I am delighted to be appointed as independent Chair to the Housing Improvement and Transformation Board. It was evident from our first meeting that there is a huge commitment to drive the changes needed to improve services for residents. I look forward to working with residents, councillors and officers to help ensure that we achieve these improvements for the benefit of all tenants and leaseholders." 

Paul Lonsdale, resident member of the Board, said: "Last night’s inaugural meeting was a powerful step towards ensuring Wandsworth residents have a meaningful voice in transforming the housing services we all rely on.  Bringing our everyday, lived experiences into performance scrutiny is vital, as residents offer unique, invaluable insights. As a Wandsworth Council resident who attended this first meeting, I am confident that this board will deliver the robust oversight and independent assurance necessary to guarantee measurable service improvements are felt on the ground for all of the borough’s residents." 

The council is establishing a forward programme of HIT Board meetings for the remainder of the calendar year. Future meetings are expected to include quarterly information and performance. 

Find out more about the council’s ongoing housing improvement work.