Withdrawn Regulatory Notice: Larch Housing Association Limited (8 November 2021)
Updated 20 December 2022
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-judgement-larch-housing-association-limited/current-regulatory-notice-larch-housing-association-limited-8-november-2021
Withdrawn on 20 December 2022: National Community Homes CIC (previously known as Larch Housing Association Limited) was de-registered on 13 December 2022.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: 8 November 2021
- 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 regulatory notices published on 20 November 2019 and 24 July 2020 and is a result of further intensive regulatory engagement with Larch Housing Association Limited (Larch).
The regulator has notified Larch that it is proposing to exercise its power to de-register Larch from the register of social housing providers under section 118 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (HRA 2008).
In accordance with section 118(2) of the HRA 2008, the regulator has provided Larch with 28 days’ notice of its proposal and the opportunity to make representations to the regulator during that notice period. At the expiry of that notice period, having considered any representations submitted by Larch, the regulator will make a decision.
The Case
The regulator maintains a register of providers of social housing. To be eligible for registration, an organisation must demonstrate its eligibility as set out in section 112 of the HRA 2008. Under section 118 of the HRA 2008, the regulator may remove a private registered provider from the register if the regulator thinks it is no longer eligible for registration.
Larch has been in persistent breach of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard since November 2019. During this period, Larch has failed to demonstrate that it can sustain its viability on an ongoing basis, or that it has the capacity to meet the regulatory standards. As a result, Larch cannot demonstrate that it meets the relevant criteria under section 112(3) of the HRA 2008.
The regulator has a statutory duty to maintain the register of social housing providers.
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.
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.