Jonathan Walters, the chief executive of the Regulator of Social
Housing, used his address at the Housing 2026 conference to
reinforce the importance of achieving more and better social
homes.
Jonathan said that the sector has delivered nearly half a million
new homes over the past 10 years, alongside making vital
improvements to existing homes to tackle issues like damp and
mould. This has been made possible by billions of pounds of
private investment, predicated on the sector's stable regulatory
environment and the focus on strong governance and financial
viability.
But, Jonathan added, there are still over one million households
on waiting lists and more quality homes are desperately needed.
Jonathan reinforced that there is a chance for landlords to seize
the opportunities afforded by additional grant funding. But to do
this in a context of tighter margins and global economic
uncertainty, good governance and rigorous risk management will be
absolutely crucial.
Jonathan concluded by saying that, to support landlords in
delivering more and better social homes, We are having a
wide-ranging conversation with the sector about how RSH can future proof its
economic regulation. We have set out proposals (in our discussion
document) on how we could be more assertive and agile, and
encourage innovation.
RSH is actively seeking
feedback from anyone with an interest in social housing and
looks forward to having lots of conversations over the coming
months.
