Why we are engaging with Angus Council (Angus)
We are engaging with Angus about its services for people who are homeless, service quality, stock quality and tenant and resident safety.
During 2025/26, we reviewed and compared the data for all local authorities from the Scottish Government’s national homelessness statistics. We also spoke to all local authorities to gather further information and assurance about their homelessness services.
In 2026/27, we will engage with Angus about the following areas:
-
how people access the homelessness services provided by Angus;
-
Angus’ assessment of homelessness applications; and
-
the provision of temporary accommodation by Angus to people who are homeless.
To assess the risk to social landlords we have reviewed and compared the 2024/25 service quality performance of all social landlords. We will therefore engage with Angus because its level of rent arrears is one of the highest of all social landlords.
Angus last carried out a stock condition survey in 2021. 10% of Angus’ stock was surveyed. Angus has told us that it has delayed its next stock condition survey, as well as the implementation of its new asset management system and updating its asset management strategy. We will engage with Angus to seek assurance that it progresses with this work, and that it has a good understanding of the condition of its homes.
Angus does not fully comply with electrical safety and fire detection requirements which came into force in early 2022 and form part of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. Angus is progressing inspections to provide Electrical Installation Condition Reports and to install integrated smoke and heat alarms in all of its tenants’ homes.
We are engaging with Angus to monitor its progress in completing this outstanding work as quickly as possible and maintaining future compliance.
What Angus must do
Angus must:
-
send us the information we require in relation to its homelessness service;
-
tell us about any emerging issues preventing it from fulfilling its statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation when it should and comply with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
-
improve its rent arrears performance and tell us when it has delivered the necessary improvements;
-
send us the information we require in relation to its approach to asset management;
-
complete the outstanding electrical and fire safety work as quickly as possible; and
-
send us monthly updates on progress on achieving compliance with electrical safety and fire detection requirements. Each update should include the latest projected timescale for achieving full compliance.
What we will do
We will:
-
review the information Angus provides about its homelessness service;
-
meet with Angus by 31 July 2026 to discuss its homelessness service and engage as necessary;
-
meet with Angus to seek assurance if it does not provide temporary accommodation when it should, or if it breaches the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
-
review the information that Angus provides about its improvements to its rent arrears performance and engage as necessary;
-
review the information Angus provides about its approach to asset management and engage as necessary;
-
review Angus’ progress with its plan to achieve and maintain compliance with electrical safety and fire detection requirements and engage as necessary; and
-
update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with Angus.
Regulatory Returns
Angus must provide us with the following annual regulatory returns:
-
Annual Assurance Statement; and
-
Annual Return on the Charter.
It should also notify us of any material changes to its Annual Assurance Statement, and any tenant and resident safety matter which has been reported to or is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive or reports from regulatory or statutory authorities or insurance providers, relating to safety concerns.