Scottish Housing Regulator launches discussion on future of regulation

Changes proposed also aim to take into account shifts in the operating context for social landlords during the period, and what future conditions are likely.

Referring to this, the paper noted: “The last five years have seen a global pandemic, the UK out of the European Union, war in Europe, and significant political change in the UK.

“Tenants and social landlords continue to face enormous challenges. Many tenants are facing genuine financial hardship. We are seeing acute issues around homelessness, and temporary accommodation in particular. 

“Social landlords are faced with cost inflation that is running well above the headline rate of CPI, higher interest rates, and increasing requirements on quality of homes, while responding to pressure to keep rents as low as possible. 

“The Scottish government also intends to bring forward two housing bills during the remainder of this parliamentary term.”

The paper emphasised that one of the key focuses for the regulator’s work from April 2024 should be on the importance of regulating to support social landlords to meet their duties to tenants and to the wider picture of homelessness.

Translated into regulatory priorities, it said, this would mean significant focus on landlords “listening and responding effectively to tenants and service users; providing good-quality and safe homes; keeping homes as affordable as possible; [and] doing all they can to reduce the number of people who are experiencing homelessness”.

It added: “We will continue our focus on equality and human rights in all landlords and governance and financial management in [registered social landlords (RSLs)].”

Quality and safety

Referring to the coroner’s report into the death of Awaab Ishak, the paper said that the regulator believes it is important to have “appropriate monitoring of the effectiveness of landlords’ approach to managing reports and instances of mould and dampness”. It invites stakeholders to suggest what they believe would be the most effective and appropriate way to do this.

The SHR also intends to strengthen its approach to monitoring tenant and resident safety by introducing additional indicators to the ‘Annual Return on the Charter’ returned by RSLs. These would focus on electrical, water, fire, asbestos and lift safety, in addition to the existing indicators around gas safety and emergency repairs.

Energy efficiency work

Elsewhere, other proposed changes would bring forward revised indicators for the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH), to reflect the outcome of efforts of a review under way in the Scottish government, when it concludes its work. The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing Review Group began its review of the new standard in 2022, for completion in 2023.

Commenting on the publication, George Walker, chair of the SHR, said: “We are committed to reviewing the regulatory framework every five years. We believe the current regulatory framework has worked well during the last five years, and that it broadly remains relevant and appropriate. We also recognise a clear appetite from many involved in social housing for a period of stability and continuity. 

“So, we will aim to maintain our current approach, but with some change to reflect the learning from the last five years and to ensure the framework remains up to date. The discussion paper sets out initial suggestions on what we think we might need or want to change. We are keen to hear the views of all our stakeholders on our early ideas.”