Regulator of Social Housing issues C1 grading to Guildford Borough Council

We've achieved a Consumer Standards C1 grading, the highest grading possible, following a recent assessment of our Housing Service by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).

The RSH has confirmed this is the first C3 to C1 upgrade.

This new grading indicates that we meet the consumer standards set by the regulator and effectively addresses and resolves problems when they are identified. It confirms that services are safe, well managed and compliant.

Joint Chief Executive Officer at Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council, Pedro Wrobel, said:

"We welcome the findings from the Regulator, which demonstrates the significant progress we've made in improving our housing services over the last two years. 

"This is all about our residents, and our determination to ensure that we provide them with the homes and services they deserve. This C1 rating is the result of extraordinarily hard work by our landlord services team, wider staff and partners, and I pay tribute to them for their commitment, professionalism and dedication. I'm incredibly proud of them, and it's fantastic to see their work recognised in this way demonstrating just how far we've come. I'm hugely grateful to the Regulator for their support and challenge ensuring we get things right.

"Over the past two years, the passion and commitment shown by every member of the team has transformed our landlord service into the strong, resident focused service we are delivering today. We know we have more to do, and we remain fully committed to ensuring our residents' homes are safe, decent and of the standard they deserve."

Joint Strategic Director of Housing, Communities and Environment at Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council, Julian Higson said:

"A C1 rating is a positive achievement and meeting these standards is the baseline residents rightly expect. We will continue to work through our Housing Improvement Plan to improve housing services, strengthen resident engagement and ensure that safety and quality remain at the centre of our work."

Joint Assistant Director of Housing Services at Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council, Annalisa Howson added:

"I'm very proud of the teams who have worked so hard to get us to this point. We know this rating doesn't mean we're perfect, and there is more to do. We won't be complacent; we remain fully focused on working closely with our tenants to continually improve the quality of our housing services.

"I'd like to thank the RSH for their support throughout our responsive engagement, and our Tenant Engagement Group for their ongoing challenge and support. Together, we're building the foundations for a stronger, more responsive housing service for the future."

Chair of the Tenant Engagement Group, Alan Wood said:

"As Chair of the Tenant Engagement Group (TEG), I've seen first-hand how the Council has improved the way they work with us, listening and treating us with fairness and respect. There's a real culture of openness now, and our views are actively shaping the way services are delivered. Tenants have been directly involved in reviewing empty homes standards and coproducing the council's newsletter, which shows just how seriously we're being taken. Our monthly TEG meetings give us a clear voice in decision making through the Housing Operations Board, and we can see the impact of our feedback. These changes have made a real difference. Tenants now feel heard, valued and more confident that the Council is acting with transparency and accountability."

Published on: 25 March 2026.