The Key Reforms of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023: Introduction to the new regulatory regime and RSH Powers

July 2023 saw the Social Housing (Regulation) Act gain royal assent. But what is the Act and what does it mean for Registered Providers?

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act will proactively encourage the regulation of Registered Providers (RPs) and will significantly enhance the Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) role in regulating the consumer standards. Many of the provisions are not yet in force and are subject to further regulations made by the Secretary of State. This will include a consultation regarding the consumer standards, against which the RSH will regulate both private registered providers of social housing (i.e. housing associations and for-profits) as well as local housing authorities.

It is anticipated that the Act will commence on 1 April 2024 and will cover four consumer standards:  

• The Safety and Quality Standard
• The Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard
• The Neighbourhood and Community Standard
• The Tenancy Standard

In this, our first of of five digests, Sarah Greenhalgh and Daniel Purcell discuss:

• How the Act will impact the remit of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH)
• Enhanced regulatory powers for the RSH
• How the Regulator monitor compliance with the new requirements