Withdrawn Regulatory Notice: Larch Housing Association Limited (11 March 2022)
Updated 20 December 2022
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-judgement-larch-housing-association-limited/current-regulatory-notice-larch-housing-association-limited-11-march-2022
Withdrawn on 20 December 2022: National Community Homes CIC (previously known as Larch Housing Association Limited) was de-registered on 13 December 2022.
RSH Regulatory Notice
- Provider: Larch Housing Association Limited
- Regulatory code: 4727
- Publication date: 11 March 2022
- Governance grade: N/A
- Viability grade: N/A
- Reason for publication: Economic Standards
- Regulatory route: Reactive Engagement
Other providers included in the judgement
None
Regulatory Finding
This regulatory notice updates, and is intended to be read in conjunction with, the previous regulatory notices published and available on the regulator’s website.
In February 2022, creditor action taken against Larch Housing Association Limited (Larch) led to the provider entering into the regulator’s insolvency process and the commencement of a moratorium. The regulator is engaging on this matter in accordance with its published statutory guidance.
Based on its most recent Statistical Data Return (SDR), Larch had fewer than 1,000 units and is classed as a small provider. 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.
About the provider
Larch was registered in July 2012 and designated as a not-for-profit provider.
The March 2021 SDR stated Larch owned and managed five units of social housing, and 261 units of non-social housing.
The regulator notified Larch of its decision to de-register it from the register of social housing providers on 17 December 2021 on the basis that it was unable to sustain its viability on an on-going basis. An appeal to the High Court under section 121 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (HRA 2008) has been lodged. Accordingly, Larch remains on the register pending the outcome of that appeal in accordance with the requirement of section 121(2) of the HRA 2008.
About our Regulatory Notices
Regulatory notices are issued in response to an event of regulatory importance (for example, a finding of a breach of the Rent Standard or of a consumer standard that has or may cause serious harm) that, in accordance with its obligation to be transparent, the regulator wishes to make public. More detail about Regulatory notices is set out in ‘Regulating the Standards.’
Key to Grades
Governance:
- G1 (Compliant): The provider meets our governance requirements
- G2 (Compliant): The provider meets our governance requirements but needs to improve some aspects of its governance arrangements to support continued compliance
- G3 (Non-compliant): 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 (Non-compliant): 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:
- V1 (Compliant): The provider meets our viability requirements and has the financial capacity to deal with a wide range of adverse scenarios.
- V2 (Compliant): 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.
- V3 (Non-compliant): 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 (Non-compliant): 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.