Transparency data

RSH environmental policy statement

Updated 24 April 2023

Applies to England

The Regulator of Social Housing regulates social housing providers in England. The RSH employs approximately 220 full time equivalent staff who either use shared office space with government partners or who work from home. This policy statement is focussed on the work we will do within our organisation to minimise our environmental impact.

In due course, the Social Housing (Regulation) Bill proposes to charge us with setting standards relating to energy efficiency in the social housing sector, and we look forward to consulting on how best to deliver that objective.

Together with our government partners, we are committed to minimising our environmental impact where it is possible and reasonable to do so whilst delivering on our fundamental objectives as an organisation. Where we can, we will go beyond the minimum requirement of complying with all relevant legislation and government policy. We work with our partners by complying with and supporting their policies and procedures on sustainability which apply to our use of shared office space.

We are committed to using our resources efficiently and limiting our impact on the environment. We will manage resource consumption and associated carbon emissions from activities within our remit and actively seek to reduce, where practicable. We monitor and publish relevant environmental performance data through our Annual Report and Accounts.

We have provisions in place to support our commitment and aims and some further actions planned:

• We provide and use electronic communications solutions to minimise the need to travel to and between offices and to the organisations that we regulate. When travel is necessary, we predominantly use public transport. Our offices are in central locations close to transport hubs, and we promote a cycle to work scheme. We do not provide pool or lease cars to staff.

• We utilise shared modern office hubs to minimise our need for office space and the energy usage of that space. We work with the relevant building management teams to understand, contribute and consider improvements to the recycling carried out in each office.

• Our staff have portable electronic devices reducing the need to print information for meetings.

• We are reviewing our approach to information management and storage volumes as data storage is one of the largest sources of our energy usage.

• We are working with our staff to have employee involvement in helping to identify further ways we may be able to reduce our carbon footprint and to help staff understand how they can contribute to our environmental aims,

• The Government Buying Standards are embedded through our triage process for procurement. Where possible we use recommended suppliers whose compliance with sustainability standards has been established.

• In our own tendering and procurement, we will ensure that we take account of environmental standards where appropriate to do so.

This policy statement will be reviewed and approved by the Board by March 2025 or earlier in the event of significant changes to our business or government policy in this area.

Signed on behalf of the RSH:

Fiona MacGregor, Chief Executive
April 2023