Regulator of Social Housing writes to social landlords on regulatory context for Government announcement on draft legislative clauses

Social landlords must ensure their repair services are working well and put building safety at the forefront of their thinking, the chief executive of the Regulator of Social Housing has warned.

Landlords should “act now; before we proactively assess whether you meet the new consumer standards’, Fiona MacGregor said.

In a letter to chief executives on the regulatory context for the Government's recent announcement on draft legislative clauses, she said: “Over recent years, there has, rightly, been a significantly increased focus on building safety.

“And when we talk with tenants, they tell us that getting repairs services right and fixing problems that tenants identify is also of fundamental importance to them.

“The day-to-day services you provide are the core of the landlord function and getting that right requires a real understanding of how things are working for your tenants, taking into account their diverse needs.”

Ms MacGregor said the Government had published some of the draft clauses that it expects to include in legislation to implement the Social Housing White Paper and she wanted to explain the regulatory context.

Her letter said: “There have been recent examples which have rightly drawn attention to some tenants having been let down by their landlords.

“In these cases, individual tenants or groups of tenants have been waiting too long for issues they raise to be resolved, and as a result people have been living in poor quality homes.

“It is vitally important that your tenants know how to report repairs, have a range of ways to access your services, and that they have confidence that when they do so, you will take appropriate and effective action. Without that confidence, people are more likely to feel the need to circumvent existing systems, which can be inefficient for everyone involved. It is the job of landlords to get this right.”

Ms MacGregor showed little sympathy for landlords who might find the work involved too expensive.

She wrote: “We recognise that the current economic realities increase the challenge and complexity of the situation, and that responding appropriately will not always be straightforward.

“But registered providers need to adapt to the world as it is now. This means improving the quality of your service where necessary and being clear, particularly with tenants, about your priorities and any trade-offs you need to make.”

Ms MacGregor called for a culture change among providers so the quality and safety of homes were viewed as vitally important.

Mark Smulian