Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association downgraded as regulator finds serious failings at two landlords

The social housing regulator RSH has downgraded the governance grading of Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association to G2. It was one of 20 regulatory judgements published on 29 July 2026, which also set out serious failings at Aves Housing, a London provider, and at YMCA Thames Gateway.

The Durham association's judgement followed an inspection. It received its first consumer grading, C2, and its viability grading of V1 was assessed and left unchanged. Seventeen other landlords and councils, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Derby City Council and Magenta Living, received judgements in the same batch.

After an investigation, RSH found that Aves Housing is not meeting its Governance and Financial Viability Standard or its Rent Standard. Aves claims to provide supported social housing in London, leasing homes and providing tenant services alongside a third party that owns many of them. Eight London boroughs have stopped almost all payments over concerns that the housing is not exempt accommodation and that there was no entitlement to housing benefit. A First Tier Tribunal found that Aves made substantial profits for a third party that controlled its operations, overcharged for services, and that tenants did not need support or did not receive it as claimed.

RSH said it had concerns that Aves had given up control of its business and was not operating as a genuine not-for-profit. Jonathan Walters, Chief Executive of RSH, said: "We will absolutely not tolerate cases where social landlords misrepresent their status as not for profit to take advantage of enhanced housing benefit payments, or charge higher rents when they are not justified." RSH said it will review all options, including enforcement powers.

A separate investigation found that YMCA Thames Gateway does not have an up to date understanding of the condition of tenants' homes and cannot show that it meets all legal health and safety requirements or provides an effective repairs service. RSH said poor risk management had led to a significant deterioration in liquidity and put its social homes at risk, but that its board is taking steps to address the position and is working positively with the regulator.