Regulation

Housing organisations have become used to inspections and regulation, to audits and to self-assessment. The Localism Act has ushered in a new approach to regulating social landlords which will apply to local authorities, ALMO’s and housing associations.

By April there will be a new ‘direction’ in place from government on regulating housing, and the Tenant Services Authority will become part of the HCA. Regulation standards will be split between consumer standards and economic standards. A new requirement is being imposed to achieve value for money. Residents will be expected to play a greater role; but their access to the housing ombudsman will be subject to having involved a “designated” person first, or be subject to an 8 week delay. Consultation on many of these changes is still underway, so there is a chance to influence some of the detail; but this also means that some of the detail is still subject to change and development.

Consequently, landlords face major challenges in ensuring not just that they comply with the new requirements but that they are able to show they excel, to prove that they are at the forefront of good practice.