The Regulation of Social Housing

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 10 Nov 2021 Closed: 5 Mar 2024 Parliament page
The purpose of this inquiry is to examine the quality and regulation of social housing in England and the Government’s proposals in the social housing White Paper for improving the regulatory regime. Read the key findings and recommendations from our report published on 20 July 2022.
24 Recommendations
31 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
11 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 26 events
21 Jul
2023
Report published
7 Feb
2023
Correspondence
6 Dec
2022
Correspondence
24 Oct
2022
Report published
19 Oct
2022
Correspondence
19 Oct
2022
Correspondence
20 Jul
2022
Report published
12 Jul
2022
Correspondence
21 Jun
2022
Correspondence
16 May
2022
Oral evidence
16 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
19 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
16 May 2022
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Oral Evidence
Eddie Hughes · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Nick Burkitt · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
19 Apr 2022
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Oral Evidence
Jonathan Walters · Regulator of Social Housing Richard Blakeway · Office for Legal Complaints Richard Blakeway · Housing Ombudsman Service
14 Mar 2022
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Formal Evidence Session
Angela Price · Guinness Daniel Hewitt · ITV News Nicole Walters · Southwark Council
9 Mar 2022
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Oral Evidence
Dr Amanze Ejiogu · Newcastle University Business School Helen Garrett · Building Research Establishment James Prestwich · Chartered Institute of Housing Jenny Osbourne · TPAS Tarun Bhakta · Shelter
7 Feb 2022
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Oral Evidence
Chloe Fletcher · National Federation of ALMOs Cllr David Renard · Local Government Association (LGA) Karen Brown · Northern Housing Consortium Kate Henderson · National Housing Federation Matthew Walker · PlaceShapers Nick Murphy · Nottingham City Homes
17 Jan 2022
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Oral Evidence; Formal Evidence Session
Ben Denton · Legal and General Affordable Homes Clare Miller · Clarion Housing Group Darren Hartley · TAROE Trust Pat Turnbull · London Tenants Federation Professor Ian Cole · South Yorkshire Housing Association Suzanne Muna · Social Housing Action Campaign
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - The Regulation of Social Housing HC 18 20 Jul 2022 55 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
14 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We call on social housing providers to take stigma and discrimination seriously, not to assume...
We call on social housing providers to take stigma and discrimination seriously, not to assume its staff are immune from such prejudices, and to ensure their boards better reflect their communities. We also encourage them to make every effort to … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is considering how requirements on diversity among boards and senior management will be set in a future suite of consumer standards and how they might proactively regulate them, with a consultation planned for 2023.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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16 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We recommend that, as part of its review of the consumer standards, the Regulator of...
We recommend that, as part of its review of the consumer standards, the Regulator of Social Housing amend the tenant involvement and empowerment standard to require providers to support the establishment of genuinely independent tenants and residents associations, including by … Read more
Government Response
The government is considering how requirements will be set in a future suite of consumer standards, and how they might proactively regulate them; a consultation is planned for 2023, subject to enactment of the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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28 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The Regulation of S…
If they have not already done so, all providers must immediately review and where necessary...
If they have not already done so, all providers must immediately review and where necessary improve their complaint handling processes. As part of this, all providers that have not already self-assessed against the ombudsman’s complaint handling code should immediately do … Read more
Government Response
The Ombudsman welcomes the inclusion of proposals in the Social Housing Regulation Bill to place the Complaint Handling Code on a statutory footing and allow proactive monitoring of compliance, but under current powers and funding arrangements, it cannot commit resources to proactive monitoring until the bill is enacted.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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41 Conclusion Deferred
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We did not find the explanation by the Regulator of why Clarion could be compliant...
We did not find the explanation by the Regulator of why Clarion could be compliant in the case of Eastfields to be convincing, especially given the comparison with Croydon Council and Regina Road. Croydon had been found guilty of systemic … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the Committee's views on the Regulator's interpretation of its statutory duties and will raise these points with the Regulator, which is independent of the Government and responsible for interpreting its statutory duties.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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52 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We recommend that the Government make it clearer to the regulator that its statutory duty...
We recommend that the Government make it clearer to the regulator that its statutory duty to minimise interference does not preclude it from using its enforcement powers. We call on the regulator to make more use of its enforcement powers, … Read more
Government Response
The government will consider how and when they might use their powers as part of developing the proactive consumer regulation regime, and are required to issue statutory guidance on the use of their powers, to be updated and subject to consultation after the Bill has received Royal Assent.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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53 Conclusion Deferred
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We are not convinced that requiring all social housing providers to register with the Regulator...
We are not convinced that requiring all social housing providers to register with the Regulator of Social Housing would necessarily prompt the Office for National Statistics to reclassify the sector as part of the public sector. It might well be … Read more
Government Response
The government is engaging with the Office for National Statistics on the classification implications of the Bill's measures, and will keep the Committee updated on progress.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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54 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We recommend that the Government invite the Office for National Statistics to make a public...
We recommend that the Government invite the Office for National Statistics to make a public announcement on whether requiring all social housing providers to register with the Regulator of Social Housing would prompt a reclassification. If the conclusion is that … Read more
Government Response
The government is engaging with the Office for National Statistics on the classification implications of the Bill's measures, and will keep the Committee updated on progress.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 48 of 24 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 31
Deferred 7
Not Addressed 5
Total 24 recs + 31 conclusions
Correspondence 11 letters
7 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Faith and Communities to the Chair dated 2 February 2023 concerning the Government response to the Committee's report on the Regulation of Social Housing
Parliament page
6 Dec 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State and the Regulator of Social Housing dated 6 December 2022 concerning social housing inspections
Parliament page
19 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Housing and Communities dated 6 October 2022 concerning the Government's response to the Committee's report on the Regulation of Social Housing
Parliament page
19 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Housing and Communities dated 19 October 2022 concerning the Government's response to the Committee's report on the Regulation of Social Housing
Parliament page
12 Jul 2022 To committee Letter from the Central Hill Estate Residents Association Committee to the Committee dated 7 July 2022 following up the Committee's visit of 11 May
Parliament page
21 Jun 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing dated 13 June 2022 following up his appearance before the Committee on 16 May in relation to the inquiry into the Regulation of Social Housing
Parliament page
30 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from the Guinness Partnership to the Chair dated 23 March 2022 concerning evidence given before the Committee on 14 March on social housing
Parliament page
30 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing dated 29 March 2022 concerning announcements on the Social Housing White Paper
Parliament page
22 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from BRE to the Chair dated 10 March 2022 concerning the inquiry into the Regulation of Social Housing
Parliament page
1 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association, to the Chair dated 22 February 2022 following up evidence given before the Committee on 7 February concerning the Regulation of Social Care
Parliament page
22 Feb 2022 To committee Letter from Broadacres Housing Association to the Chair dated 9 February 2022 concerning social housing and Auditor shortage
Parliament page