Current regulatory judgement: Brighter Places (29 November 2023)
Updated 29 November 2023
Applies to England
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RSH Narrative Regulatory Judgement
- Provider: Brighter Places
- Regulatory code: L3758
- Publication date: 29 November 2023
- Governance grade: G1
- Viability grade: V2
- Reason for publication: Viability regrade
- Regulatory route: Stability Check and Reactive Engagement
Regulatory judgement
This regulatory judgement regrades our previous published assessment of Brighter Places’ financial viability from V1 to V2 and confirms its existing G1 grade for governance.
The regulator has assurance that Brighter Places continues to comply with the financial viability elements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard and that its financial plans are consistent with, and support, its financial strategy. Brighter Places has an adequately funded business plan, sufficient security, and is forecast to continue to meet its financial covenants.
Brighter Places is increasing investment in existing homes, which is weakening its interest cover and reducing headroom on funder covenants. Brighter Places also has a small development programme which exposes it to housing market risks. These factors, set in the context of economic pressures including inflation and interest rates, impact on Brighter Places’ capacity to respond to adverse events.
The regulator’s assessment of Brighter Places’ compliance with the governance elements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard remains unchanged. On the basis of the Stability Check, the regulator has concluded that there is no evidence to indicate a change to Brighter Places’ current governance grading.
Other providers included in the judgement
None
About the provider
Origins
Brighter Places is a community benefit society providing social and affordable rented homes, low-cost shared ownership, and new homes.
Registered Entities
Brighter Places is the only registered entity in the group.
Unregistered Entities
Brighter Places has one small subsidiary, Bristol Living Limited, which provides photovoltaic panels.
It also has a 10% shareholding in Dunmail 2017 Project Ltd, a special purpose vehicle to deliver 161 homes; and a 1% shareholding in Alliance Homes Partnership Ltd, a cost sharing vehicle with another registered provider to deliver responsive repairs.
Geographic Spread and Scale
Brighter Places owns or manages around 3,300 homes in the Bristol, Swindon, Bath, and South Gloucestershire area.
Staffing and Turnover
The group employs 85 full-time equivalent staff. Group turnover for the year ended 31 March 2023 was £22.9m.
Development
Brighter Places plans to develop around 424 affordable rent and low cost ownership homes by 2029.
About our judgements
Key to Grades
Governance:
| Compliant | |
|---|---|
| G1 | The provider meets our governance requirements. |
| G2 | The provider meets our governance requirements but needs to improve some aspects of its governance arrangements to support continued compliance. |
| Non-compliant | |
|---|---|
| G3 | The provider does not meet our governance requirements. There are issues of serious regulatory concern and in agreement with us the provider is working to improve its position. |
| G4 | The provider does not meet our governance requirements. There are issues of serious regulatory concern, and the provider is subject to regulatory intervention or enforcement action. |
Viability:
| Compliant | |
|---|---|
| V1 | The provider meets our viability requirements and has the financial capacity to deal with a wide range of adverse scenarios. |
| V2 | The provider meets our viability requirements. It has the financial capacity to deal with a reasonable range of adverse scenarios but needs to manage material risks to ensure continued compliance. |
| Non-compliant | |
|---|---|
| V3 | The provider does not meet our viability requirements. There are issues of serious regulatory concern and, in agreement with us, the provider is working to improve its position. |
| V4 | The provider does not meet our viability requirements. There are issues of serious regulatory concern, and the provider is subject to regulatory intervention or enforcement action. |
Note: The use of an asterisk (*) against a grade indicates that the assessment refers to a provider that is designated as being for-profit.
Definitions of Regulatory Routes
In Depth Assessment (IDA): An IDA is a bespoke assessment of a provider’s viability and governance, including its approach to value for money. It involves on-site work and considers in detail a provider’s ability to meet its financial obligations and the effectiveness of its governance structures and processes.
Stability Checks: Based primarily on information supplied through regulatory returns, a Stability Check is an annual review of a provider’s financial position and its latest business plan. The review is focused on determining if there is evidence to indicate a provider’s current judgements merit reconsideration.
Reactive Engagement: Reactive engagement is unplanned work which is triggered by new information or a developing situation which may have implications for a provider’s current regulatory judgement.
Stability Checks and Reactive Engagement: In some cases, we will publish narrative regulatory judgements which combine evidence gained from both Stability Checks and Reactive Engagement.
For further details about these processes, please see Regulating the Standards.