Serious failings have been identified in Southampton City Council’s service as a landlord to thousands of residents.

The city council was inspected by the Regulator of Social Housing - and in a report published today, it said a wide range of 'serious failings' in consumer standards were found.

These included almost half of council homes - 47 per cent - not meeting the decent homes standard; overdue asbestos re-inspections; inefficient and delayed repairs and failures in handling complaints effectively and on time.

There was also no evidence of tenants being involved in decision making, other health and safety oversight issues and a 'limited evidence of an accurate and complete understanding of the council’s homes'.

The Regulator of Social Housing said these shortcomings had a “significant impact” on tenants, grading the authority a three, the second lowest.

This grading means the council has significant improvements to make to bring its service up to standard.

Cllr Lorna Fielker, leader of the council, said tenants had been let down and she apologised for not providing the service they "should expect and deserve".

Southampton City Council owns around 18,000 homes, with some supported or sheltered accommodation.

The regulator said it was engaging with the local authority 'intensively' as it gathers evidence to make sure sufficient progress is being made.

“We are not proposing to use our enforcement powers at this stage but will keep this under review," the watchdog said.

Cllr Fielker said: “On behalf of the council, I would like to apologise to all those tenants who have not received the standard of service they should expect and deserve.

“A good home is the foundation on which happy and healthy lives are built and it is clear that as a landlord, we have let our tenants down.

“I am committed to ensuring the regulator’s findings are addressed and that our improvement plans are delivered as soon as possible.”

The council said an updated housing improvement plan will be presented to the overview and scrutiny management committee and the cabinet in December.

Jamie Brenchley, director of housing, said: “We fully acknowledge and accept the regulator’s findings and are committed to improving the service that we provide to tenants.

“We are making improvements as quickly as we can and welcome the opportunity to work closely with the regulator, and most importantly our tenants, as we deliver our improvement plan.

“Our focus is on putting tenants’ voices at the heart of what we do.

“We must look at how we connect with communities to ensure their views are considered before we make decisions.”

Since the new regulation system was introduced in April, consumer standards grades have been published for 52 private registered providers and local authorities.

Ten have received a top grade of one, with 23 graded at two, 18 at three and a single landlord – the London borough of Newham – receiving the lowest grade of one.