Failing social housing providers are being told the must raise standards to ensure all tenants live in decent homes and are treated with fairness and respect by their landlords under the threat of unlimited fines.
In the most significant change to the regulation of social housing in a decade, landlords will now be routinely inspected and held to account to make sure they provide their residents with quality homes and services. Those who do not abide by these new rules face a range of potential sanctions, including appointing new management or unlimited fines.
New powers mean the Regulator can drive up standards and take action where providers fall short. The rules now require landlords to:
- Have an accurate record on the condition of every home, based on checks of properties so landlords can understand any problems and take action.
- Set clear timelines for the completion of repairs, maintenance and planned improvements, communicating them clearly to tenants.
- Give tenants opportunities to influence and scrutinise their landlord’s services such as through meetings with tenant organisations.
- Provide tenants with information about their rights and how to make complaints.
- Publish the new tenant satisfaction measures to make it clear how tenants feel their landlord is performing and hold them to account.
Minister for Social Housing Baroness Scott said: “Everyone deserves a decent home and to be treated with fairness and respect. That’s why we are taking strong action to improve the quality of social housing and the services landlords provide. If landlords fail their residents, there will be consequences.
“This is a significant milestone in our work to put right some of the issues laid bare by the devastating Grenfell Tower tragedy, and I have huge admiration for the bereaved families, survivors and community who have campaigned tirelessly for improvements in the sector.”
