Regulation

Protecting social housing assets in a more diverse sector: a discussion paper on principles for amending the regulatory framework for social housing in England

The social housing sector is changing rapidly and becoming more complex:

• For profit providers of social housing are entering the sector while not for profit providers are diversifying into non-social housing activities, which could impact on social housing assets
• Welfare reform and market conditions have reduced some of the certainty of Providers’ income streams.
• Reduced levels of grant are placing greater emphasis on private finance and Providers’ own resources for investment in new affordable homes.

The Regulator needs to keep pace with this changing operating environment and ensure that the Framework allows it to gain the assurances needed for robust regulation and remain effective in its objective of protecting social housing assets. It is also important to maintain lender confidence and the right conditions for on-going investment in the sector to allow new affordable housing to be developed.

We wish to engage the sector and its stakeholders on the principles that will lie behind before developing the more detailed technical propositions. We are keen to receive feedback from stakeholders on their views to these principles and the likely impact on their business.
The discussion paper was launched on 9 April 2013 and all responses must be received by Tuesday 4 June 2013.

• Download the consultation document - PDF (816KB)

All formal, written responses should be sent to consultation@hca.gsi.gov.uk.

There will be a technical consultation on the detailed changes to the regulatory framework which will address any statutory consultation requirements. This will be published once any feedback from this consultation has been considered.

The HCA took responsibility for the regulation of social housing providers in England on 1 April 2012.

If you have a regulation enquiry please contact our Referrals & Regulatory Enquiries Team on 0300 1234 500 (option 2) or email mail@homesandcommunities.co.uk

The scope of our regulatory activity applies to registered providers of social housing. As the Regulator we are responsible for maintaining the register of social housing providers, and for setting out the regulatory framework within which they must operate. The Regulatory Framework includes both the regulatory standards which providers must meet, and the way in which the Regulator carries out its functions.

The focus of our activity is on governance, financial viability and value for money as the basis for robust economic regulation; maintaining lender confidence and protecting taxpayers.

While we set consumer standards, the primary responsibility for resolving issues with these is between landlords and their tenants at a local level. We will only intervene in cases of serious detriment that have caused, or are likely to cause, harm.

Our regulatory responsibilities are discharged through a new independent Regulation Committee, and within the parameters of the new Regulatory Framework.