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
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Eddie Hughes · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Nick Burkitt · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
19 Apr 2022
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Jonathan Walters · Regulator of Social Housing Richard Blakeway · Office for Legal Complaints Richard Blakeway · Housing Ombudsman Service
14 Mar 2022
View on parliament.uk
Formal Evidence Session
Angela Price · Guinness Daniel Hewitt · ITV News Nicole Walters · Southwark Council
9 Mar 2022
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
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
12 results
Clear
3 Conclusion
First Report - The Regulation of S…
The level of disrepair in some parts of the social housing sector can undoubtedly be...
The level of disrepair in some parts of the social housing sector can undoubtedly be attributed partly to the age and design of the housing stock, some of which was never built to last and is now approaching obsolescence. For … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
4 Conclusion
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We are concerned, however, about the Government’s decision to extend the statutory right to buy...
We are concerned, however, about the Government’s decision to extend the statutory right to buy to all tenants of private social housing providers. The existing policy has reduced the number of homes available for social rent and increased the proportion … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
5 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - The Regulation of S…
To reduce the social housing sector’s reliance on outdated stock, we recommend that the Government...
To reduce the social housing sector’s reliance on outdated stock, we recommend that the Government introduce funding specifically for regeneration that does not require the delivery of net additional housing and deliver on its commitment to increase the supply of … Read more
Government Response
The response focuses on setting clear outcome-based expectations for registered providers and seeking assurance that they are achieving them, but it does not address the specific recommendations regarding funding for regeneration or amending the Affordable Homes Programme.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
6 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - The Regulation of S…
To prevent the further erosion of the social housing stock, we urge the Government to...
To prevent the further erosion of the social housing stock, we urge the Government to set out how it plans to fully fund the one-for-one and like-for-like replacement of every home sold under the proposed extension of the statutory right … Read more
Government Response
The response focuses on setting clear outcome-based expectations for registered providers and seeking assurance that they are achieving them, but it does not address the specific recommendations regarding funding for regeneration or amending the Affordable Homes Programme.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
7 Conclusion Not Addressed
First Report - The Regulation of S…
The social housing sector is under serious financial pressure, and the Government is asking it...
The social housing sector is under serious financial pressure, and the Government is asking it to do far too much without sufficient resources. We therefore welcome the progress made towards finding a financial solution to the building safety crisis and … Read more
Government Response
The response discusses the new standards to set clear outcome-based expectations for registered providers, but it does not address the financial pressures on the social housing sector or the need for equal access to building safety remediation funds.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
8 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We recommend that the Government provide an update on social housing providers’ access to funds...
We recommend that the Government provide an update on social housing providers’ access to funds for building safety remediation and commit to ensuring they have exactly the same access to funds as private landlords. It should also provide an assessment … Read more
Government Response
The response discusses the roles of the RSH and the Housing Ombudsman, not addressing the recommendation about funding for building safety remediation and decarbonisation.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
10 Recommendation
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We urge all providers of social housing to support tenants who, through no fault of...
We urge all providers of social housing to support tenants who, through no fault of their own, cannot heat or ventilate their homes properly. This support should include the provision of dehumidifiers and mechanical ventilation systems to deal with condensation … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
11 Conclusion
First Report - The Regulation of S…
Whilst social housing providers cannot be blamed for the age of their stock or for...
Whilst social housing providers cannot be blamed for the age of their stock or for government policy, they must certainly take responsibility, where they have failed to respond properly to requests for repairs, have preferred quick fixes to structural problems, … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
19 Conclusion
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We are pleased the Government is setting up the Social Housing Quality Resident Panel, but...
We are pleased the Government is setting up the Social Housing Quality Resident Panel, but we believe there is a strong argument for committing now to making it a permanent national voice for tenants, or at least to establishing such … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
20 Recommendation
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We recommend that the Government establish the Social Housing Quality Resident Panel on a permanent...
We recommend that the Government establish the Social Housing Quality Resident Panel on a permanent basis as the national tenant voice body that tenants representatives have been calling for. The Government should send the strongest possible signal to tenants that … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
24 Conclusion
First Report - The Regulation of S…
Whatever external or impersonal forces might be contributing to the very poor treatment some tenants...
Whatever external or impersonal forces might be contributing to the very poor treatment some tenants have to endure, ultimate responsibility must lie first with the individuals concerned and then with senior management. We therefore strongly welcome the Government’s review of … Read more
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
25 Recommendation Not Addressed
First Report - The Regulation of S…
We call on the Government to provide an update on the progress of its review...
We call on the Government to provide an update on the progress of its review of qualifications and professional training in the social housing sector, including a timeline for implementation of any new qualifications. (Paragraph 103) The Housing Ombudsman Read more
Government Response
The response states that they look forward to continuing to work with tenants and other stakeholders as they develop a new proactive consumer regulation regime, but does not provide an update on the progress of its review of qualifications and professional training in the social housing sector, including a timeline for implementation of any new qualifications.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
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 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
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
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