In September last year, Basildon Borough Council in Essex announced it would end its contract with Morgan Sindall Property Services in June 2026. Callaghan said in September that work on bringing housing repairs back in-house would begin “immediately”. In April, the Regulator of Social Housing announced it had found very serious failings at the council. Barnes previously said that getting a better rating from the Regulator of Social Housing was one of his main priorities. Morgan Sindall has been contacted for comment.