The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is the public body responsible for improving social landlords, including local authorities like the Council and housing associations.
It does this by setting standards and taking enforcement action against landlords where appropriate. This can include fines or sanctions or other interventions.
From April 1, 2024 the RSH has introduced a new set of standards and will now be inspecting social landlords. Landlords can also self-refer to the RSH if they are failing to meeting the standards.
Context
Charnwood Borough Council has around 5,450 homes. The homes are supported by the Council’s Landlord Services team which has over 100 employees. A series of contractors carry out some repairs, maintenance, inspections and improvements like new kitchens and bathrooms.
In 2022/23 we spent around £17 million on managing the homes including repairs, maintenance and supporting tenants. We also spent £1.2 million on improvements. All this is funded by rent from tenants (not council tax).
New consumer standards
The RSH has introduced a new set of consumer standards which means landlords will need to:
- ensure tenants are safe in their homes
- listen to tenants’ complaints and respond promptly to put things right
- be accountable to tenants and treat them with fairness and respect
- know more about the condition of every home and the needs of the people who live in them
- collect and use data effectively across a range of areas, including repairs
There are four consumer standards:
- Neighbourhood and Community Standard - This standard is about ensuring safety in shared spaces; tackling antisocial behaviour, hate incidents and domestic abuse; and promoting social, environmental and economic wellbeing. The landlord must work with tenants and other agencies.
- Safety and Quality Standard - This standard is about better understanding of the condition of the housing stock; meeting Decent Homes standards; health and safety in homes and communal areas; effective and timely repairs and maintenance; helping tenants access housing adaptations
- Tenancy Standard – This standard is about the allocation and letting of properties; supporting tenants to maintain their tenancy; offering tenancies compatible with the purpose of the accommodation and people's needs; meeting legal requirements; and providing support for mutual exchanges
- Transparency, Influence and Accountability (including Tenant Satisfaction Measures) - This standard is about treating tenants and prospective tenants with fairness and respect; achieving equitable outcomes; considering tenants' views when making decisions; communication with tenants and providing information; support scrutiny by tenants; and address complaints fairly and promptly.
There is also a Consumer standards Code of Practice to help tenants and landlords understand what is expected under the consumer standards and how landlords might deliver the outcomes of the standards.
There are also economic standards for social landlords to meet. These have not changed.
What happens next
The Council is assessing how it meets the new standards. We accept there is some work to be done and we will be involving tenants, partners and others in making some changes.
We welcome the new standards as this is about raising the standard of homes for tenants in Charnwood.
The RSH will apply gradings to social landlords against the standards.
Safety and quality and tenant engagement
Key areas for the new standards are safety and quality and tenant engagement.
Safety and quality
If you are a tenant or leaseholder of the Council and have any concerns regarding health and safety issues relating to your home or the building you live in, Janet Glass, the Head of Landlord Services and her team can be contacted on:
Email: hsls@charnwood.gov.uk
Telephone: 01509 634 666
By visiting or writing to: Charnwood Borough Council, Southfield Road, Loughborough, LE11 2TX
Tenant engagement and satisfaction
The Regulator of Social Housing has introduced a requirement for local authorities and housing associations (often called ‘registered providers’) to record their performance against a number of measures, known as ‘tenant satisfaction measures’ or ‘TSMs’.
The set of TSMs applies throughout the social housing sector so that a provider’s performance can be compared with other similar providers. More information can be found below:
We regularly measure tenant satisfaction and share those results with the Housing Management Advisory Board. The board also receives regular performance reports about how the Council is performing on the range of other tenant satisfaction measures, and local priorities. Information about the Housing Management Board and reports setting out performance levels can be found below:
Committee details - Housing Management Advisory Board
More information about ways in which tenants and leaseholders can get involved in the delivery and scrutiny of housing services can be found below:
Last updated: Tue 18th June, 2024 @ 20:05