RSH launches consultation on updates to consumer standards and requirements

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has launched a 12-week consultation today (Tuesday 9 December) on revisions to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard (TI&A standard), Consumer Standards Code of Practice, and the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs). 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has already consulted on Competence and Conduct and Social Tenant Access to Information (STAIRs). The purpose of RSH's consultation is to now ensure that the directions MHCLG has given as a result are accurately reflected in its TI&A standard. 

The Competence and Conduct requirements are aimed at driving greater professionalism and higher standards by ensuring relevant housing staff have the required skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to deliver a high standard of service to tenants.  

Senior housing managers and executives will also be required to hold, or be working towards, a housing management qualification. 

The STAIRs requirements will give tenants of private registered providers (PRPs) a similar level of access to information relating to the management of social housing that local authority tenants already have.  

PRPs will have to proactively publish certain information about their activities that is set out in the government's policy statement, and tenants will be able to formally request relevant information and receive timely responses.  

RSH's consultation also sets out how RSH proposes to implement a new TSM covering electrical safety checks. 

RSH Chief Executive Fiona MacGregor said: 

“The proposed changes to our standards we are consulting on will enable the sector to further improve outcomes for social housing tenants and deliver good services.   

“All the changes being consulted on are intended to enhance the transparency and accountability of landlords to their tenants.  

“We are keen to receive views on the proposals from registered providers, tenants and anyone with an interest in social housing.” 

The consultation runs from 9.30am on Tuesday 9 December 2025 to 6.30pm on Tuesday 3 March 2026.

Notes to editors  

1 - The consultation has three parts:   

• changes to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability (TI&A) Standard relating to Competence and Conduct, the Social Tenant Access to Information (STAIRs) and the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs)  
• changes to the associated Code of Practice  
• the introduction of a new electrical safety checks TSM. 

2 - MHCLG's consultation outcomes can be found on Gov.UK -  Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements: consultation - GOV.UK; Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing: government response. 

3 -The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 gave the government the power to direct RSH to introduce new Competence and Conduct requirements, which will set the professional standards that the staff of registered providers will be required to meet. MHCLG consulted on their direction to us including their policy statements for Competence and Conduct and STAIRs. We are consulting on the Competence and Conduct requirements (which, it is proposed, will become part of the TI&A Standard) and Code of Practice, having been directed by the government to do so in September 2025, with the requirements expected to come into force from October 2026. 

4 - The STAIRs requirements will give the tenants of PRPs broadly similar access to information to that of tenants of local authorities under the Freedom of Information Act. From October 2026, PRPs will be required to proactively publish certain information relating to the management of their social housing. From April 2027, they will also be required to respond to information requests from their tenants or their designated representatives. RSH was directed on STAIRs in September 2025. It is proposed that it will be reflected in the TI&A Standard.    

5 - RSH is also planning to reissue the TSMs using our new powers of direction. This is a purely administrative change and should not affect registered providers or change or alter in any way how they currently collect, process, publish and submit to the regulator their TSM data – it is an exercise to align the TSMs to their proper legal context for the RSH. 

6 - The introduction of an electrical safety checks TSM was committed to in the TSM consultation decision statement. With the introduction of new legal electrical safety requirements on social landlords, we can move ahead with this. The regulator currently regulates on electrical safety, including in our published judgements. The proposed TSM allows comparative and clear information to be collected by each landlord, published as part of TSM results and, for large landlords, submitted to us. As the TSM relates to checks as at the year end, we anticipate it will be in place to cover the 2026/27 reporting year for large landlords, and all subsequent reporting years. 

7 - RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver and maintain homes of appropriate quality that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants.