Berneslai Homes announces a new Chief Executive.

Here is what tenants now need to see change.

Berneslai Homes Barnsley

Berneslai Homes has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive, due to take up the role in April 2026.

Change at the top often comes with warm words about listening, improving services, and putting tenants first. That is welcome. But for many Barnsley tenants, the problem has never been a lack of statements. It has been a lack of outcomes.

Over the past year, we have spent a great deal of time listening to tenants, reviewing complaint correspondence, reading inspection reports, and tracking repeated themes across Berneslai Homes cases. The picture that emerges is not one of isolated problems, but of systemic issues that have been allowed to drift for too long.

What We Are Seeing, Repeatedly

Across Barnsley, tenants are telling us about the same core problems:

Long-running repair issues that are repeatedly “inspected” but not resolved
Damp and mould treatments that are applied, removed, and then return
Poor communication, with tenants chasing updates for weeks or months
Complaints being acknowledged but then stalled or split across stages
Residents being told issues are “historic” or outside time limits, despite ongoing impact
Void properties sitting empty while families remain in unsuitable homes

These are not minor inconveniences. For many residents, these issues affect health, safety, mental wellbeing, and family life. Being told to wait, chase, or start again is not good enough when people are living with damp, unsafe floors, structural concerns, or repeated disruption.

Complaints Should Fix Problems, Not Exhaust People

A functioning complaints system should resolve issues. What we often see instead is a process that wears people down.

Stage 1 complaints that acknowledge failures but offer limited remedies
Stage 2 escalations that focus narrowly on time limits rather than lived impact
Compensation figures that do not reflect the disruption experienced
Residents left feeling blamed, dismissed, or disbelieved

This is not how social housing should operate.

Why the Berneslai Homes Tenants (Action Group) Exists

In response to the growing number of tenants facing similar struggles, residents came together to form BERNESLAI HOMES TENANTS (ACTION GROUP).

This is a private Facebook group, created specifically for tenants of Berneslai Homes to come together under one roof and provide a safe and open space to:

Discuss maintenance and repair issues
Ask tenancy and complaint-process questions
Share experiences and evidence
Support one another without judgement
Highlight patterns that are otherwise treated as “one-off cases”

Your feedback is invaluable. By coming together as a community, tenants are better able to understand their rights, spot recurring problems, and push collectively for better outcomes.

Whether you are looking for advice, reassurance, or simply to connect with others facing similar challenges, this group exists to ensure tenants are not left feeling isolated or unheard.

Your voice matters. Speaking out is not being difficult. It is asserting basic standards.

You can find the group here: BERNESLAI HOMES TENANTS (ACTION GROUP)

We also encourage tenants to engage with the Barnsley Council Tenants Forum, because scrutiny and improvement only happen when residents are involved and informed.

What Needs to Change Under New Leadership

As a new Chief Executive prepares to take over, there are clear expectations that matter far more than strategy documents or press releases:

Repairs must be completed properly, not repeatedly patched
Communication must be clear, written, and consistent
Complaints must resolve problems, not deflect responsibility
Voids must be addressed transparently and efficiently
Tenants must be treated with respect, not suspicion

This is not about personal criticism. It is about accountability, evidence, and standards.

We Are Watching, and We Are Staying Focused

This blog is not a one-off. We will continue to listen to tenants, review evidence, and raise concerns where patterns persist. Constructive change is always welcome. Silence and spin are not.

We have had enough spin, we will not be hoodwinked and we certainly will not stand for being gaslit ever again.