RSH publishes regulatory notice for Easy Housing Association following a breach of the economic standards
Easy Housing Association has breached the Regulator of Social Housing's governance and financial viability standard.
In a regulatory notice published today (28 March 2023), the Regulator of Social Housing concluded that Easy Housing Association has breached the governance and financial viability standard.
Following an investigation the regulator found that Easy Housing Association, a provider of supported exempt accommodation, is inadequately governed and that the board has failed to oversee the organisation with an appropriate level of skill and foresight. Easy Housing Association did not provide assurance that its board has appropriate experience or technical competence, and did not show evidence that it was addressing these skills gaps.
Because of these failures in governance, Easy Housing Association also failed to assure the regulator that it complies with the home standard and that tenants are not at risk of harm.
The regulator found that Easy Housing Association’s approach to business planning was inadequate and it did not plan appropriately for the risks associated with its lease arrangements. Its financial forecasting was also weak and it did not carry out appropriate stress testing of its business plan. In addition, Birmingham City Council has stated that one of Easy Housing Association’s properties was established without the required planning permission.
Easy Housing Association has not been able to demonstrate that its homes meet the definition of social housing, or that it complies with the rent standard.
In agreement with the regulator, the provider has put a plan in place to address these issues.
Harold Brown, Senior Assistant Director for Investigation and Enforcement, said:
Easy Housing Association has failed to meet our standards in multiple areas, including significant weaknesses in managing financial risks and in business planning. It also failed to show that it complies with the standards on key issues, including those for health and safety and rents. Its Board needs to take immediate steps to address these failures of governance.
Easy Housing Association and its new Chair have started to address these issues, and we will monitor it closely as it works to return to compliance with our standards.
Notes to editors
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Easy Housing Association’s business model is to enter short term leases in Birmingham and use these properties for the purposes of supported exempt accommodation.
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Based on the most recent statistical data return, Easy Housing Association had fewer than 1,000 units, and is therefore classed as a small provider and does not have governance and financial viability grades. The regulator does not publish regulatory judgements for providers which fall into this category. Instead, in the interests of transparency, the regulator publishes a regulatory notice where it has evidence that a small registered provider is not meeting the regulatory standards. This notice is published under those arrangements.
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More information about how RSH regulates against its standards is available in Regulating the Standards.
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RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver and maintain homes of appropriate quality that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants.
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