Social Rented Housing
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to (a) increase standards and (b) improve the regulation of social housing.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook
All registered providers of social housing are required to deliver the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing.
On 1 April 2024, to complement the existing proactive economic regulation of private registered providers of social housing, a new, proactive consumer regulation regime was introduced. The Regulator of Social Housing has begun proactively seeking assurances that registered providers are meeting the outcomes of the strengthened consumer standards through routine inspections of large landlords (those with more than 1,000 homes). Following inspection, the Regulator issues all large landlords with a consumer grading to ensure it is clear how landlords are performing.
The Regulator works intensively with providers who are not delivering the outcomes set out in the standards and has a series of powers at its disposal when it identifies serious failings.
The government is committed to taking further action to raise quality standards in both rented sectors, and to strengthen residents’ voices. In the coming months, we will bring forward legislation on Awaab’s law for the social rented sector, consult on a new Decent Homes Standard, and introduce new requirements on competence and conduct and access to information.
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