A BACKLOG of work on Barnsley Council’s housing stock which at its peak hit almost 3,500 over the last financial year is now down to just 37, a report has revealed.
Councillors will discuss an update on Berneslai Homes’ work on the management and maintenance of the current housing stock, which currently stands at around 18,000 homes.
It comes following and inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) last September who gave a C1 judgement - the highest possible and an accolade only three councils have received.
The report states that more than 58,000 ‘responsive repairs’ have been made to the housing stock over the last 12 months.
It added: “As of March 31, significant progress has been made on the backlog of works from 2023/24.
“A total of 37 jobs remain outstanding from the original 3,489 backlog at the start of the financial year.
“In addition to the backlog, it is important to note that the number of responsive repairs reported in 24/25 was 58,985, a reduction of approximately 4,000 - seven per cent - from 23/24 of 62,964.”
Another major issue Berneslai Homes faced were concerns around damp and mould.
Figures show that the number of open cases for either issue has more than halved over the last year - in part down to new ‘stringent measures’.
The report added: “Over the last 12 months, and ahead of Awaab’s Law implementation in October 2025, there has been some considerable work carried out to support all our customers who report damp and mould in their properties.
“Berneslai Homes have set up a stringent damp and mould reporting and monitoring process which allows close management of all cases from the point of being reported to when the works have been completed.
“They are also implementing a post inspections process which allows them to identify reoccurring damp and mould cases and follow up with the appropriate action.
“During 2024/25 there has been a good improvement within damp and mould data.
”The number of seven-day orders raised for damp and mould has decreased over the 12 months with only 132 jobs open at the end of March 2025 compared to the 387 open at the end of April 2024.
“The number of total disrepair cases related to damp and mould is currently at 183.
“The dedicated team is working closely with partners and colleagues in neighbourhood services to ensure that they minimise disruption to tenants and carry out the works within the agreed timescales.”
Berneslai Homes are also supporting the council by allowing the stock to be used as temporary accommodation.
The report said: “There is a commitment to increase temporary accommodation from council stock to 70, by March 2027.
“The current number of council owned temporary accommodation in use is 33.
“The council’s Lettings Policy, adopted in March 2024, aligns priority status to those owned both relief and prevention under the Homelessness Reduction Act, with a large proportion of lettings under the new policy going to homeless and other band one priority applicants.”
