Scottish regulator vows to remain ‘agile and responsive’

George Walker, chair of the SHR, warned that the year ahead is likely to be “unpredictable, volatile and difficult” for social landlords. 

“Moving into 2023-24 social landlords are faced with cost inflation, higher interest rates, and increasing requirements on quality of homes,” he said.

“This is all combined with huge demand for support from tenants who are facing genuine financial hardship, and there is pressure to keep rents as affordable as possible." 

Mr Walker said that the SHR will “shortly consult” on its future regulatory framework, building on the “very useful initial informal discussion phase” launched in the summer.

“This work will shape our regulatory approach for the next five years, and it will very much take account of our engagement with all of our stakeholders,” he said.

In the report, the SHR said that in 2022-23 it focused its work on its priorities around rent affordability, supporting landlords and giving tenants a strong voice.

The regulator focused on the quality of the homes social landlords provide and, with that, the safety of tenants and residents, including the standards of Gypsy and Traveller sites.

It also prioritised how landlords discharge their duties to people who are homeless or have experienced homelessness, with a particular focus on duties to provide temporary and settled accommodation.

The regulator said it continued to prioritise providers’ governance and financial health with a focus on business planning. And it continued to support and review landlords’ recovery from the pandemic, including handling of any backlogs in housing services, it said.

The SHR said it also worked with stakeholders to provide landlords with advice on damp and mould, and published thematic reviews on rents and homelessness.

During the year, the regulator published its National Report on the Charter and findings from its research with its National Panel of Tenants and Service Users. 

During 2022-23, the SHR said it saw an overall downward trend in a number of its internal risks, including those relating to its regulatory framework, business failure and public body compliance.