Croydon Council is one of the first councils in the country to make a Housing Assurance Board a formal part of its governance structure, showing its long-term commitment to openness and improvement.
Eamon McGoldrick has been appointed as the independent chair of the board – a key step in improving housing services for residents.
The new board replaces the Housing Improvement Board, which has supported Croydon’s housing transformation since 2022. This work helped the Council reach an important milestone in April this year, when the Regulator of Social Housing removed its regulatory notice.
It will oversee all areas of housing, including the Council’s work as a landlord and its responsibilities for homelessness and housing needs. It will keep services focused on quality, safety and the needs of residents. For residents, this means clearer accountability, stronger challenge and more transparency about how housing decisions are made.
The board brings together councillors, residents – including those with lived experience of homelessness – and independent housing experts with skills in building safety, repairs and housing management.
By bringing together strong oversight with a wide range of experience, the board will help Croydon keep improving its homes and services. It will also help make sure the Council continues to meet national standards, with clear reporting and accountability.
The Council has already had interest from other local authorities who want to understand how this approach works in practice.
Eamon McGoldrick brings more than 45 years of housing experience. He has held senior roles including Chief Executive of Homes for Islington, Chair of the Barnet Group and Managing Director of the National Federation of Arms-Length Management Organisations (ALMO). He has a long record of improving housing management, governance and resident involvement across the sector.
Eamon said: “I am delighted to have been appointed Chair of Croydon’s Housing Assurance Board. I firmly believe that Councils benefit from the insight that residents and independents bring to their governance arrangements.
“Croydon’s housing services are improving, but there is more to do. Members of the Housing Assurance Board will work hard to ensure landlord and homeless services are fully compliant and the best they can be.”
“The Housing Improvement Board helped drive real improvements. It showed the value of having an independent group in place.”
“As that work comes to an end, I supported the creation of the Housing Assurance Board and wanted cross-party involvement from the start. This is an important step in strengthening how we manage housing in Croydon.”
“It will help us keep standards high and stay focused on what matters most for residents – safe, good quality homes, keeping our residents at the heart of our decisions”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
