Background
The Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, was developed as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and subsequent publication of the Charter for Social Housing Residents in November 2020. It aims to reset the relationship between registered providers of social housing (RPs) and their residents by introducing a new, proactive approach to regulating social housing landlords on consumer issues, as well as new enforcement powers to tackle failing landlords. The Act is being implemented in stages, which started in April 2024.
New Consumer Standards
The Act puts the regulation of consumer standards on the same footing as economic regulation of social housing from 1st April 2024. It also made compliance with the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaints Code mandatory. This applies to all Registered Providers of Social Housing, regardless of size, although providers with under 1000 units will not be inspected nor given a rating. The new Consumer Standards are:
- Neighbourhood and Community Standard
- Safety and Quality Standard
- Tenancy Standard
- Transparency, Influence and Accountability (including Tenant Satisfaction Measures)
Implications for providers.
- Registered Providers must be able to produce evidence of compliance with the standards and publish key information including the results of its Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey and complaints performance. The National Housing Federation has a range of information, resources and support for Registered Providers on the new consumer standards.
- Non-RPs that partner with RPs to run supported accommodation services may have to provide additional evidence or work more closely in partnership with RPs to help them meet the standards, for example, encouraging tenants to complete the Tenant Satisfaction Measures surveys and engage with the landlord.
Links
Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023
