September 2023 - update on government’s work to improve the quality of social housing
The government is committed to improving the quality of social housing in England. In response to the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, we are reforming the sector so that every tenant has a decent, safe and secure home. We report our progress every month.
Applies to England
Regulator of Social Housing and Housing Ombudsman Consultations
Now that the Social Housing (Regulation) Act has achieved Royal Assent:
- the Regulator has launched a consultation on its revised consumer standards to ensure they are up to date, in line with changes from the new law, and still meet their objectives.
- The Housing Ombudsman has also launched a consultation on the updates to its Complaint Handling Code to ensure landlords comply with the guidance.
Damp and mould guidance
In response to the Coroner’s report following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities jointly agreed to review the current guidelines on the health outcomes of damp and mould for the housing sector. We have now published new guidance for rented housing providers on damp and mould.
This focuses on the health impacts of damp and mould and the vulnerabilities of different groups. It also sets out actions landlords, housing professionals and tenants can take to deal with it with an emphasis on addressing the underlying causes, such as insufficient ventilation, low indoor temperature and poor energy efficiency.
HHSRS Review Summary Report
On 7 September, we published a summary report of our review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). The HHSRS was introduced as a tool used to assess hazards in homes in 2006 and the review considered whether the HHSRS should be updated. The report sets out next steps, including the regulations required to bring the review’s recommendations into force.
Making sure tenants’ voices are heard
Tenants’ rights and complaints
As part of the government’s response to the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, we committed to introduce new requirements for providers to give their tenants information on their rights, and on how they can make complaints. This will help to ensure that tenants can hold their landlords to account for providing decent quality homes and treating them with fairness and respect.
On 27 September, we launched a consultation on new directions to the Regulator of Social Housing that will ensure that all registered providers of social housing must tell their tenants about their rights and how they can complain if they are being let down. This is just one of the steps we are taking to ensure that tenants can hold their landlords to account.
Make Things Right campaign for residents
We will launch our fourth Make Things Right campaign in October to raise awareness of the complaints process for social housing tenants.
Adverts on social media, radio, community radio stations for non-English speakers and on search engines will point people to our advice website. More information about the campaign will be released when it launches.
Resident Panel
The Social Housing Quality Resident Panel continues to play an invaluable role in shaping social housing policy. It brings together residents from across England to directly and regularly share their views with government on social housing quality policy.
In September, we met with the Panel to update them on how their input is helping to shape social housing quality, including on Awaab’s Law. We also shared the findings of a recent focus group on improving understanding about the experiences of residents with disabilities.
The meeting was attended by Baroness Scott of Bybrook, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at The Regulator for Social Housing.
Four Million Homes
Our Four Million Homes programme provides free information, guidance, and training on residents’ rights. It will run until March 2025.
It helps residents to work with their landlords and make sure homes and neighbourhoods are well-maintained, clean and safe.
Our autumn programme of free face-to-face training started in early September in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and London. The programme includes sessions on how to be involved in landlords’ resident panels, running an effective residents’ association, and on the legal requirements social housing landlords must comply with.
We also ran online webinars on damp and mould, anti-social behaviour, and leaseholder rights.
Looking ahead
Below is our planned activity over the coming months and year. All timings are indicative and subject to change.
Immediate next steps (by autumn / winter)
To further improve social housing quality, we plan to launch consultations on:
- the Decent Homes Standard
- minimum energy efficiency standards (to be included in the new Decent Homes Standard)
- time limits for repairs and hazards (Awaab’s Law)
- competence and conduct standards for social housing landlords
- supported housing regulatory oversight
- social housing rent policy from 2025
- the Access to Information Scheme
We also plan to publish:
- Our consultation response on changes to electrical safety requirements
Further training will be held under our Four Million Homes programme in October on:
- how to make a complaint with your landlord
- the Regulator of Social Housing’s live consultation on the new Consumer Standards.
These can be booked online where you can sign up for the Four Million Homes newsletter for the very latest on training and resources.
Activities ahead of the consumer regime being introduced in April 2024
- the Regulator will publish its decision statement and standards for its new consumer regulation regime, following its consultation which closes on 17 October 2023.
- the Housing Ombudsman will launch a consultation for its members on their new power to publish good practice guidance.
By Autumn 2024
Publication of the first Tenant Satisfaction Measures data, provided by landlords to the Regulator.
Further information and resources
More details on our reforms can be found on the Social Housing Quality page.
Find information and guidance on social housing residents’ rights and the services landlords are required to provide at Four Million Homes guidance.