Council takes next step to strengthen housing services in West Northants
11 November 2025
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has taken the next step in transforming its housing services, approving a phased plan to bring management of its housing stock back in-house by 2027. The move aims to improve safety, transparency, and long-term service quality for tenants across the area while strengthening accountability and compliance with new national housing regulations.
The decision, approved by Cabinet on 11 November, follows an extensive consultation with tenants, leaseholders, and stakeholders earlier this year, which showed strong support for the proposed change, with 60% of respondents (1,619) in favour compared to just 9.6% (259) who were not.
The move will enable the Council to strengthen oversight and accountability for housing services, improve safety and quality standards, and deliver a more integrated housing offer across West Northamptonshire. It will also support compliance with the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, which introduced a tougher regulatory regime and a requirement for greater transparency and assurance from all housing providers.
Under the approved phased approach, some back-office and corporate functions will transfer to the Council in 2026, followed by the full integration of remaining services by no later than April 2027. During this time, NPH will continue to operate and work closely with the Council to ensure a smooth and safe transition for tenants and staff.
Bringing our housing services back into the Council will give us the stronger oversight and accountability needed to meet the new regulatory standards and to deliver the improvements residents expect.Cllr Charlie Hastie, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities
We’re grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation. The feedback shows clear support for this direction and gives us a strong foundation to move forward, focusing on improving safety, communication, and the overall tenant experience.
Around 11,500 homes are currently managed by NPH on behalf of WNC, including properties across Kings Heath, Kingsthorpe, and Spring Boroughs, as well as housing for older residents and supported accommodation. The phased transition will ensure service continuity while allowing the Council to embed lessons from recent inspections and improvement programmes.
The decision reflects a national trend, with many councils across the UK choosing to bring Arm’s Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) back in-house to strengthen control, improve efficiency, and deliver more joined-up services for tenants.