Consultation on revised SoS directions to RSH on tenant involvement and mutual exchange

Overview

This consultation seeks views on proposed Directions from the Secretary of State to the Regulator of Social Housing, using powers under section 197 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (“the 2008 Act”).

The Social Housing White Paper included a commitment to introduce a proactive consumer regulation regime. We have reviewed the existing directions covering tenant involvement and mutual exchange to ensure they are suitable for the new regulatory framework.

These directions form one part of the changes we are making to the consumer regulatory regime. The department will work with the Regulator to conduct a full review of the new regime after a four-year regulatory cycle is complete.

This consultation will last for six weeks from 16 February to 30 March 2023.

Why your views matter

The new directions include a number of small, but important, changes to support the smooth implementation of the new consumer regime. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, we intend to issue the new directions to the Regulator in Spring 2023.

Once issued formally, the directions will be binding on the Regulator. The Regulator will subsequently conduct a statutory consultation with tenants, providers and other stakeholders on its revision of consumer standards for registered providers of social housing. As such, these directions may have an impact on the revision of standards which will affect registered providers and their social housing tenants.

These regulatory changes support the overall reform objectives; to facilitate a new, proactive approach to consumer regulation so providers of social housing can be effectively held to account for the services they provide to tenants.