East Suffolk Council has referred itself to the Regulator of Social Housing following issues with rent payments and health and safety data records.

It comes after the council completed a four-month review into issues with its housing landlord service, which found improvements were required in a number of areas.

The review found that data held by the council on health and safety issues was not as comprehensive and robust as required.

East Suffolk is now arranging for additional inspections to be carried out to ensure its data is updated correctly.

The review also found some tenants who moved in after 2014 may have incorrectly been charged a higher rent.

An independent external audit of every rent account will now be conducted to find out how many tenants have been affected.

Council leader Steve Gallant said: 'I am grateful to officers for the thorough and diligent review they have undertaken.

'However, their findings are deeply disappointing and reporting our position to the housing regulator is entirely the right approach.

'I want to personally reassure all our tenants that any discrepancies in relation to rent payment will be resolved, and a drop in the standards they should expect will be confronted and addressed.'