HA staff face new competency standards under post-Grenfell changes
Social housing providers will have to ensure their staff meet new competency standards after amendments were made to new post-Grenfell laws currently passing through parliament.
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The bill, which will provide the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) with strengthened powers to regulate consumer issues, passed through its report stage in the House of Lords on 18 October, with several amendments added.
The Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said that social housing providers will have to ensure all 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 RSH.
The changes are part of the government’s Social Housing Regulation Bill, which was unveiled in June. The long-awaited bill also includes plans for Ofsted-style inspections by the regulator and unlimited fines for poorly performing social landlords.
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In the House of Lords, Baroness Scott of Bybrook said the competency standard followed a review into the arrangements relating to the training and development of the sector’s workforce.
“Our review has led us to conclude that directing the Regulator of Social Housing to set regulatory standards on staff competence and conduct is the best way to professionalise the sector,” she said.
She added: “It is important to note that regulatory standards will apply to employees at all levels of seniority. This will ensure that changes happen across organisations and that professionalism is embedded into organisational cultures from top to bottom. That is the real prize here.”
There was also an amendment allowing the regulator to set standards for registered providers over the energy efficiency of accommodation, facilities and their services.
Peers in the House of Lords voted for making energy efficiency one of the stated priorities and objectives of the regulator.
DLUHC has 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, the government made up to £1.5bn available through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and Home Upgrade Grant schemes.
This is to allow social housing providers and local authorities to submit bids for funding to upgrade the properties of around 130,000 low-income and social households.
A spokesperson for the RSH said: “We welcome the amendments to the bill and look forward to working with government, tenants and landlords to take this agenda forward.”
Andrew Stephenson, minister for housing and communities, 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.”
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