The regulator has issued two more judgements on consumer standards as part of its first round of inspections since 1 April
Watford Community Housing Trust and Nottingham Community Housing Association have been given a ‘C1’ grading, meaning both landlords are meeting the outcomes of the consumer standards.
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) said both housing associations have shown that they identify issues affecting tenants and put plans in place to solve them and minimise recurrence.
The first phase of the regulator’s inspection programme started on 1 April and is part of the its return to proactive regulation as a result of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act.
Watford Community Housing Trust (WCHT) and Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) have also retained their ‘G1’ and ‘V1’ gradings for governance and financial viability.
RSH has said that even when a landlord is assessed as C1, it expects that they will continue to review, evaluate and improve their service to tenants.
On WCHT’s compliance with the consumer standards, the RSH highlights that the housing association delivers an effective repairs service to tenants.
In addition, where WCHT has identified issues with repair satisfaction levels, it “has made proactive, tenant-focused improvements.”
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The RSH stated that NCHA keeps an accurate record of the condition of its homes through physical surveys and has a system in place to keep this information up to date.
The regulator added that the NCHA uses its understanding of the quality and safety of its homes to make decisions on future investments to maintain and improve its homes.
The reports noted that both housing associations provide a wide range of opportunities for tenants to influence and scrutinise their policies, strategies and services. However, they also both acknowledged the need to work on capturing the views of a range of tenants.
WCHT owns 5,200 social homes across Hertfordshire, and NCHA owns 10,500 social homes in the East Midlands.
Kate Dodsworth, chief of regulatory engagement at RSH, said: “Our inspection programme is a really important part of our new regulatory approach. Now we can go out and proactively seek evidence that a landlord is delivering the outcomes in our consumer standards, which will help to drive long-term improvements in landlords for the benefit of tenants.
“Critically we’re also continuing to scrutinise the finances and governance of housing associations and other private registered providers, at a time when they are facing many competing demands on their finances. Through our integrated regulation, we’re helping to promote a sector that is viable, well governed and able to deliver more and better social homes for people who need them.”
Earlier this month, the regulator published four judgements for social landlords who had failed to demonstrate compliance with the consumer standards. The RSH gave Bristol City Council, Guildford Borough Council, Octavia Housing and Sheffield City Council ‘C3’ gradings, which signifies non-compliance with the standard.
RSH has said it expects to publish more judgements from its first wave of inspections, as well as its responsive engagement, later in the summer.
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