Social housing landlords to be subject to ‘Ofsted-style inspections’

by Mike Thatcher
in 151 News · Housing
— 8 Jun, 2022

Underperforming social housing landlords could face unlimited fines and Ofsted-style inspections under the Social Housing Regulation Bill set to be introduced to Parliament today (8 June 2022).

The bill will provide the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) with the power to issue unlimited fines to housing associations and councils that are persistently underperforming. The RSH will be able to enter properties with only 48 hours’ notice (down from 28 days) and, where there is a serious risk to tenants, order emergency repairs with landlords footing the bill.

As part of new satisfaction measures, residents will be able to demand information and rate their landlord. A 250-person residents’ panel will meet with ministers three times a year to raise issues and inform policy thinking.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said that the bill forms a “key part of the government’s mission to level up across the country”.

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove added: “We are driving up the standards of social housing and giving residents a voice to make sure they get the homes they deserve. That is levelling up in action.”

The bill will remove the “serious detriment test”, which currently places a limit on when the RSH can use some of its enforcement powers.

Fiona MacGregor, RSH chief executive, told Room151: “We welcome the introduction of the Social Housing Regulation Bill in Parliament today, which will give us the powers we need to deliver proactive consumer regulation. It will also give us new tools to strengthen our economic regulation of an increasingly diverse sector.

“We look forward to working with tenants, registered providers and other stakeholders to shape this new framework. We’re clear that, where change is needed, landlords shouldn’t wait for new legislation – they should act now before we assess them against the new consumer standards”.

Speaking last month at the Housing151 conference, Will Perry, the RSH’s director of strategy, warned that the new regulatory regime will make some councils “intensely uncomfortable”.