Caution urged on regulatory review

Housing minister Grant Shapps used his speech at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Harrogate conference last week to announce a review of social housing regulation.

He made it clear the existing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority, would be scrapped, but said alternative arrangements for regulation were up for debate.

‘We would stress the importance of maintaining a regulator that has a strong independent remit.’

Sarah Webb, chief executive, CIH

Sarah Webb, chief executive of the CIH, said: ‘Over the past five years housing professionals, tenants, councillors and boards have worked closely together to come up with a regulatory settlement that cuts red-tape and reduces bureaucracy, putting the focus back on the relationship between the landlord and the tenant.

‘CIH supports a thorough review of social housing regulation by government, and we urge that this builds on the strong foundations already in place through the TSA to deliver value for money for the taxpayer and underpin great service provision for tenants.’

David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said he feels the sector has ‘an effective and modern regulatory settlement’.

He added: ‘If the minister considers that changes are needed, we look forward to working with him and his officials through the processes of consultation and legislation that will be necessary.

‘Whatever happens, it is imperative that we have a regulatory settlement that supports the sector in its vital work of meeting housing need. That is the test against which any proposed changes must be judged.’

Earlier this week the G15 group of housing associations called for any replacement for the TSA to be fully independent.

Ms Webb echoed this request: ‘We would stress the importance of maintaining a regulator that has a strong independent remit and is able to fully focus on the job at hand.’