A huge change is being made to social housing
A MAJOR change to drive up standards in social housing is now in effect. In November 2022, the
Rochdale Observer joined calls from the Shelter housing charity to introduce routine Ofsted-style inspections of social landlords.
It formed part of the wider Awaab’s Law campaign, in the wake of the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who suffered fatal consequences following prolonged exposure to mould in a Rochdale flat. The change was part of reforms being campaigned for by Grenfell United alongside Shelter, following the Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people in 2017.
This month, new powers for the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) to inspect council house providers and housing associations have come into force. Announcing the move on X (formerly Twitter), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities described it as ‘the biggest change to social housing rules in a decade.’
It said routine inspections would mean social landlords are ‘held to account’ and made sure they ‘provide their residents with the decent homes and service they deserve’.
The move is part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, passed last summer, which also carries the Awaab’s Law requirement for damp and mould to be inspected and repaired in strict timeframes.
On Tuesday (April 2), the RSH announced five new regulatory standards all social landlords must now follow. According to the RSH, these new
standards mean social landlords must ensure tenants are safe in their homes, and listen to tenants’ complaints and respond promptly to put things right.
They also mean housing providers must be accountable to tenants and treat them with fairness and respect, know more about the condition of every home and the needs of the people who live in them, and collect and use data effectively across a range of areas, including repairs. More than 1,000 people took part in a recent RSH consultation about the changes, with more than half of responses coming from tenants.
The RSH says an overwhelming majority supported its proposals. Routine inspections will run in four-year cycles. The RSH says it will also scrutinise data on tenant satisfaction, repairs and other relevant issues, while pushing landlords to protect tenants and improve standards, as well as focusing on financial viability and governance of social landlords.
Fiona Macgregor, chief executive of RSH, said: “Social landlords must keep tenants safe in their homes, listen to what they say and put things right when needed. We are introducing new standards to drive improvements in social housing, and we will actively inspect landlords to check they are meeting them.”
A separate Awaab’s Law consultation on the timeframes for inspection and repairs of hazards, including damp and mould, took place earlier this year. The outcome is yet to be announced.