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Scottish regulator proposes landlords submit annual statements
Scottish social landlords could submit annual statements to the regulator under new proposals currently out for consultation.
The Scottish Housing Regulator has launched a consultation on the future of social housing regulation in Scotland, which includes the proposal for ‘annual assurance statements’ for local authorities and housing associations.
Under the proposal, social landlords would send statements to the regulator setting out, with evidence, how they are meeting the standards in the Scottish Social Housing Charter and regulatory requirements.
The regulator would require that the statements be submitted between April and October each year and they should be made available to tenants and other service users.
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According to the discussion paper released alongside the consultation, the regulator’s new way of working will have three main focuses: tenant and resident safety; homelessness; and governance and financial management in registered social landlords (RSLs).
As part of the consultation the regulator has also suggested that its consent no longer be required for housing associations to transfer homes outside of the sector, a deregulatory measure intended to tackle the sector’s classification by the Office for National Statistics.
The regulator also plans to be more explicit in its requirements for housing associations to have business plans, require internal audits, provide guidance on severance payments and a clearer focus on rent affordability.
George Walker, chair of the regulator, said: “Our proposals aim to support landlords to do the right things, by promoting a culture of assurance, openness and transparency.
“We want to support RSL governing body and local authority committee members to get the assurance they need that their organisations are well run, so can deliver what tenants and other service users need and want at a price they can afford to pay.
“Our proposals reflect feedback from stakeholders on our discussion paper earlier this year. Since then we’ve continued to discuss our ideas at meetings and events, to develop and test our thinking.”
