- Changes to the Social Housing Regulation Bill will strengthen
the powers of the regulator
- All social landlords will be required to ensure that their
staff meet competency standards
- Regulator to publish plan for regular inspections of largest
landlords
Social housing tenants will benefit from better quality housing
and have their complaints dealt with quicker under government
measures to increase inspections and drive-up competency amongst
staff.
Social housing providers will have to ensure that all their staff
- from neighbourhood housing officers to senior management - have
the right skills, experience and knowledge to deliver a
high-quality service for residents. The new standard will be set
out and enforced by the Regulator of Social Housing.
The Regulator will also have a legal duty to publish a plan on
its commitment to regularly inspect the largest landlords,
including details on how often these will happen.
The move comes as a result of amendments to the Social Housing
Regulation Bill which completed Report Stage in the House of
Lords yesterday. These changes will improve the regulation of
social housing, ensuring landlords deliver better services and
higher quality, safer homes for tenants.
Minister for Housing MP said:
Social housing tenants deserve a high-quality service and to be
treated with respect. This Bill marks a revolution in the way we
regulate social housing, making sure landlords put things right
when they go wrong.
For the first time there will be a professional standard that
social landlords have to meet, along with increased inspections
on the biggest providers. This is a vital step as we deliver on
our mission to half the number of poor-quality rented homes by
2030 and level up the nation.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has also
committed to consulting on a minimum energy efficiency standard
in the social housing sector within six months of the Bill
receiving Royal Assent.
Last month, £1.5 billion was made available for social housing
providers and local authorities to make energy
efficiency upgrades. This could see bills for around 130,000
low-income households slashed by £400 to £700 a year.
The Social Housing Regulation Bill will strengthen the rights of
tenants, empower them to make their voices heard, as well as
giving the Regulator stronger powers to act if things go wrong.
Qualifications such as those offered by the Chartered Institute
of Housing will be one way landlords can ensure their staff
have the right skills and knowledge to meet new standards.
