What do the new consumer standards and inspection regime mean for providers in the specialist housing sector?

The Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 came into force in July 2023. To coincide, the Regulator of Social Housing (“RSH”) has been busy preparing its new “proactive” consumer regulation regime. Following a range of consultations which concluded early this year, the new regime came into force on 1st April 2024.

This Housing LIN viewpoint 108, written by Ellis Pugh, Solicitor at Shakespeare Martineau, considers what the new consumer standards and inspection regime mean for registered providers in the specialist housing sector. However, they will equally apply to the supported housing sector.

The four consumer standards explored by Ellis include:

• Safety and Quality Standard (the provision of safe and good quality homes and landlord services to tenants);
   
• Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard (to be open with tenants and treat them with fairness and respect so that they can access services, raise complaints, influence decision making and hold their landlord to account);
   
• Neighbourhood and Community Standard (to engage with other relevant parties so that tenants can live in safe and well-maintained neighbourhoods and feel safe in their homes);
   
• Tenancy Standard (to let and allocate homes fairly and how tenancies are to be managed and ended by landlords).

Read this Viewpoint to explore in further depth a number of common themes that can be identified through the new consumer standards.