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Regulator warns councils about health and safety duties after Home Standard breaches
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has written to all stock-retaining councils reminding them of their health and safety obligations to tenants after two councils recently breached the Home Standard.
In a letter sent to council chief executives today, the English regulator noted that it had recently issued two regulatory notices to local authorities which have failed its Home Standard for consumers on health and safety grounds – and reminded councils that they must comply with its standards.
A regulatory notice was issued to Gateshead Council last month over serious fire, asbestos and electrical safety concerns. In August a notice was handed to Arun District Council for its failure to properly carry out fire and water risk assessments.
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The letter, signed by Fiona McGregor, chief executive at RSH, said: “While the regulator’s Governance and Financial Viability Standard and Value for Money Standard do not apply to local authorities, the consumer standards do apply.”
In the letter Ms McGregor pointed out the part of the Home Standard which requires registered providers to meet all applicable statutory requirements that ensure the health and safety of occupants in their homes.
She added: “That obligation remains with the local authority where it is the stock-owning body, even if the management has been contracted to another body such as an ALMO.”
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After the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, the regulator wrote a similar letter to all social landlords warning that “boards and councillors must ensure that they have proper oversight of all health and safety issues”. The letter also stressed that contracting out services “does not contract out responsibility”.
Today’s letter said: “This letter is a reminder to local authorities that the consumer standards apply to them and that while we currently only consider information that is referred to us, this does not diminish the obligation on local authorities to comply with the standards.”
“You may wish to seek your own assurance that your authority is complying with the consumer standards.
“I would also be grateful if you could bring this letter to the attention of your elected members.”
The full letter is attached.
