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Scottish regulator seeks ideas for new framework
The Scottish Housing Regulator is seeking ideas for the future of social housing regulation as it prepares its new regulatory framework.
The regulator has published a discussion paper outlining its early thinking on its regulatory priorities and is inviting tenants, landlords and others to contribute their views by 30 March.
The regulator will use the feedback to develop its proposals for a new regulatory framework, which it will consult on later this year. The last framework was developed in 2012 and the regulator has committed to a five-yearly review. The new framework will be launched in 2019.
It intends to improve its focus on tenant safety and homelessness and encourage evidence-based self-assurance for landlords. It also plans to promote whistleblowing through its regulatory standards.
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It plans to introduce annual assurance statements for all landlords, including a programme of visits, and aims to require all registered social landlords to have internal audit and audit committees.
In its discussion paper the regulator has set out a number of risks facing the sector. The Scottish Parliament is currently considering a bill to deregulate the sector to try and avoid housing associations remaining in the public sector and their debt sitting on the government’s books.
As with the UK government deregulatory bill, which passed into legislation last year, one of the changes in the Scottish bill will be to remove the requirement for housing associations to obtain consent from the regulator before disposing of land or other assets and to make constitutional changes.
The regulator also expects changes to social housing regulation following the Grenfell Tower fire.
The paper states: “Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, we also expect to see growing expectations on social landlords and regulators once all of the reviews into the tragedy have concluded. These expectations are likely to go beyond fire safety to the fundamental importance of a strong tenant voice and how landlords listen to, engage with and respond to that. Good governance is critical for ensuring a landlord is meeting its legal duties, including those that ensure the safety of its tenants and residents.”
George Walker, chair of the Scottish Housing Regulator, said: “For social landlords, effective ways for tenants and service users to have their voices heard are critical. Our work to date has promoted a strong tenant voice.
“We want to build on the strengths and successes of the existing regulatory framework. We also want to learn from our experiences over the past five years, respond to new challenges and consider the future context for landlords.”
