Is Leicester’s housing department in crisis? Councillors are demanding answers and accountability, launching a dramatic no-confidence vote against leaders accused of “multiple failures.” From failed inspections to delays in vital housing projects, residents are questioning what’s next for the city’s struggling housing situation. Will leadership change be enough?
A significant challenge to Leicester City Council’s housing department leadership has emerged, with a councillor initiating a ‘no confidence’ vote amidst allegations of widespread failings and a refusal to acknowledge critical shortcomings.
Councillor Zuffar Haq has spearheaded this motion, citing a series of deeply concerning issues that collectively paint a picture of departmental mismanagement and oversight. These include a highly critical failed social housing inspection, the distressing case of a family fleeing domestic abuse left in unsuitable accommodation, and repeated missed opportunities to develop much-needed new social housing in the city, contributing to the Leicester Housing Crisis.
Haq voiced grave concerns regarding a potential “continued decline in the housing situation in the city” if the current leadership structure remains unaddressed. He specifically implicates the Deputy City Mayor for Housing, Economy, and Neighbourhoods, Elly Cutkelvin, alongside the city mayor, in the accountability for these alleged administrative lapses, highlighting the need for Local Government Accountability.
In response, a spokesperson for Leicester City Council has defended its record, asserting that the authority is “making good progress on delivering new affordable housing.” The council claims it is “on track” to surpass its target of 1,500 new homes by 2027, having already completed 1,100. They also acknowledged that leaders were “aware there is much more work to do” and committed to working with partners to address future challenges in Urban Development Leicester.
The most poignant example of the department’s alleged failings involves an Ombudsman ruling concerning a woman and her children forced to endure “unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation for longer than they should have” after fleeing domestic abuse. While the council issued an apology, it notably refused to pay the full compensation stipulated by the watchdog, drawing further criticism for Social Housing Issues.
The Ombudsman explicitly accused the authority of being “reluctant to fully acknowledge what has gone wrong in this case” and of “not accepting the gravity of the injustice to this family.” However, the council had previously countered, stating the ruling did not “take into account” the broader national housing crisis and the existing “lack of suitable housing” within the city, which it deemed “outside of” its immediate control, having declared a local housing crisis in 2022.
Further exacerbating the criticism, Councillor Haq highlighted “wasted opportunities” for housing development, including the strategically important Hospital Close site near Leicester General, purchased by the council in 2021 for future housing projects. This inaction, coupled with the previous inspection findings where new standards were introduced, and the council admitted it “needed to carry out a significant amount of work,” underlines the current scrutiny leading to the No Confidence Vote.
The motion formally put forward by Councillor Haq unequivocally states: “That, due to multiple failures, wasted opportunities, maladministration and the refusal to recognise these failings and the refusal to compensate for that maladministration, this council has no confidence in the leadership of Leicester City Council’s Housing Department. If this is continued we will not see any improvement in the situation and it will continue the decline in the housing situation in the city.” This strong declaration sets the stage for a critical debate on the future of housing leadership in Leicester.
