RSH launches a consultation on proposed new standards 

Today (25th July 2023), The Regulator of Social Housing has launched a consultation on a set of standards for social landlords which are designed to afford more protection to tenants and improve service levels. This follows the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 receiving royal assent on 20th July 2023.

Social landlords, which includes local authorities and housing associations, already have a set of standards set by the regulator and can face action if they fail to meet those standards. It is intended that the new requirements will be even stronger and give tenants greater power to hold their landlord to account. 

The current standards are: 

Economic Standards  

• Governance and Financial Viability Standard 
• Value for Money Standard 
• Rent Standard 

Consumer Standards  

• Home Standard 
• Tenancy Standard 
• Neighbourhood and Community Standard 
• Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard 
• Tenant satisfaction Measures Standard  

The Regulator is proposing four new consumer standards: 

• The Safety and Quality Standard which will require landlords to provide safe and good-quality homes for their tenants along with good-quality landlord services 
• The Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard which will require landlords to be open with tenants and treat them with fairness and respect so they can access services, raise concerns when necessary, influence decision making and hold their landlord to account 
• The Neighbourhood and Community Standard which will require landlords to engage with other relevant parties so that tenants can live in safe and well-maintained neighbourhoods and feel safe in their homes  
• The Tenancy Standard which will set requirements for the fair allocation and letting of homes as well as requirements for how tenancies are managed by landlords  

 

The consultation will run for 12 weeks finishing on the 17th October 2023. For more information including how to respond to the consultation see here.