The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH)’s existing powers were strengthened by the Social Housing Regulation Act, which received Royal Assent in July 2023. Most come into effect in April next year.
RSH will continue to consider using its powers when social landlords both fail to deliver the outcomes set in regulatory standards and cannot or will not put things right. RSH will also continue to have a proportionate approach and consider each case individually, and the first priority will be for landlords to identify and address issues themselves.
The types of issues that may lead to RSH using its powers include serious failings that put tenants and their homes at risk, financial viability issues, and failure to comply with regulatory standards despite intensive engagement and other regulatory interventions.
RSH’s proposed statutory guidance explains the situations where it may use its powers, as well as the process for using them.
The consultation is running for 10 weeks, finishing on Tuesday 16 January 2024.
Jonathan Walters, Deputy Chief Executive at RSH, said:
“Our stronger powers will help deliver long-lasting change that improves landlords’ services to tenants. We will continue to have a proportionate approach and require landlords to fix problems when they fail to deliver the outcomes required in the standards. But if they don’t, we have a range of tools to make them put things right.
“We encourage tenants, landlords and others in the sector to take part in this important consultation.”
