Consultation on future social housing rent policy

Overview

Topic of Consultation

This consultation seeks views on a new Direction from the Secretary of State to the Regulator of Social Housing in relation to social housing rent policy. It focuses on the introduction of a new rent policy from 1 April 2026.

Scope of Consultation

The Direction would require the Regulator to set a standard on rents that will apply to Registered Providers of social housing. This encompasses:

• Private Registered Providers (including housing associations that are Private Registered Providers)
• Local authority Registered Providers (i.e. local authorities with retained housing stock)

Section 197 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 gives the Secretary of State the power to direct the Regulator of Social Housing to set a standard on rent, and about the content of that standard. Once issued, a Direction is binding on the Regulator.

We propose to use this power to issue a new Direction to the Regulator on rent, and to revoke directions on rents that were issued by the previous government in 2019 and 2023. The proposed Direction and an accompanying policy statement have been published alongside this consultation.

Geographical Scope

The proposals will apply to rents charged by providers registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. They will therefore mainly affect tenants of social housing in England.

Why your views matter

We are gathering evidence from tenants, landlords, lenders, investors and other organisations associated with the social rented sector with views on the terms of the next social housing rent settlement, to come into effect on 1 April 2026.

If you can provide us with information on this subject, please complete the survey.