First Choice Homes Oldham has been given top grades for how it is run and for its financial strength by the housing regulator, following an inspection this summer.

The Regulator of Social Housing awarded the landlord G1 and V1 grades for governance and financial viability after the inspection in July this year. Those are the highest grades available in both categories.

For the way it delivers services to tenants, FCHO received a C2 rating, which is one grade below the top. The regulator said the landlord is delivering for customers, and noted work under way to improve repairs, handling of anti-social behaviour and complaints handling.

FCHO said those areas are now being addressed through its new corporate strategy.

Chief executive Mark Gifford said: "We are extremely proud of this excellent inspection outcome that reinforces FCHO is well run and in a strong financial position."

He added: "The regulator agreed with us on the areas where we can do better in the new customer category and has referenced how they are now being addressed at pace."

Gifford said the inspection was the first time the organisation had been assessed against the consumer standards.

He went on: "We're not complacent, though. You have told us in some areas we need to do better for example we're working hard to improve the speed of repairs, how we manage anti-social behaviour and delivering even better outcomes for our customers."

The inspection was a routine check that the landlord said it was expecting. FCHO submitted documents setting out how it works, and inspectors attended a board session and a meeting of its Customer Performance and Scrutiny Panel. They also spoke to tenants, the executive team and board members.

The regulator grades housing providers against three standards on a scale of 1 to 4. Grades 1 and 2 mean a provider meets the standards, while grades 3 and 4 mean it does not. The standards cover governance, the financial strength of the organisation and consumer matters such as keeping tenants safe, listening to their views and managing tenancies.

FCHO said it is now focused on delivering its corporate plan, Our Plan 2026-2030, which sets out aims for quality homes that are safe and sustainable, services that are responsive and right first time, and partnership working with customers and other organisations to support strong communities.

Anyone with questions about the inspection can contact the landlord at [email protected].