Not a single fine has been issued to Gateshead councilhouse tenants who have missed repair appointments in almost six months. The freedom of information request details come despite the local authority’s policy to crack down on wasted appointments being introduced back in July 2025.
Data obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service has found that, between the introduction of the council’s £35 fine for missed repair times on 18 July to the most recent data point on 26 November, not a single fine has been handed down. This is despite the council stating back in July this year that there has been over 16,000 ‘no access events’ between 2024/25, costing the council between £25 and £100 each time.
More recent figures from Gateshead Council also show that 3,119 such incidents occurred between July and September this year.
The council’s Lib Dem opposition leader, Coun Ron Beadle, said: “Responsible Council tenants are currently paying for others’ missed appointments. I hope I am wrong but the council’s decision to only use the fining powers that it has given itself ‘in exceptional circumstances’ is unlikely to have any effect on the problem. I have asked for the figures to be monitored every three months so we can all see if the policy is working.’”
A council spokesperson said: “Gateshead Council’s No Access Policy is being formalised as part of a public consultation on proposed changes to our Tenancy Agreement, and is part of a wider strategy to improve the efficiency of our home repairs service and reduce unnecessary costs. While the policy sets out the potential for a £35 charge in cases of repeated missed appointments, as the FOI confirms, we are yet to apply any fines.
“Our priority is not to punish tenants but to ensure we can deliver safe, compliant housing and essential repairs in a timely way. We are focusing first on education and awareness, making sure tenants understand the importance of granting access and the benefits this brings.
“Any future charges will be clearly communicated to tenants with safeguards in place for those who need additional support, and will only ever be applied in exceptional circumstances where repeated access issues prevent us from carrying out mandatory repairs.”
