Social Housing White Paper (England)

1. In November 2020 the government published the Charter for Social Housing Residents: the Social Housing White Paper.1Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, The charter for social housing residents: social housing white paper, 17 November 2020 It applies to England.

Overview

2. The White Paper introduced:

  1. a new charter for social housing residents; and
  2. proposed changes to the regulatory regime for social housing. 

A new charter for social housing residents

3. Every social housing resident should be able to expect:

  1. To be safe in your home. The government will work with industry and landlords to ensure every home is safe and secure.
  2. To know how your landlord is performing, including on repairs, complaints and safety, and how it spends its money, so you can hold it to account.
  3. To have your complaints dealt with promptly and fairly, with access to a strong ombudsman who will give you swift and fair redress when needed.
  4. To be treated with respect, backed by a strong consumer regulator and improved consumer standards for tenants.
  5. To have your voice heard by your landlord, for example through regular meetings, scrutiny panels or being on its board. The government will provide access to help, if you want it, for you to learn new skills to ensure your landlord listens.
  6. To have a good quality home and neighbourhood to live in, with your landlord keeping your home in good repair.
  7. To be supported to take your first step to ownership, so it is a ladder to other opportunities, should your circumstances allow.

Changes to the regulatory regime

4. The White Paper sets out many proposed changes to the regulatory regime for social housing. Annex A of the white paper sets out the required changes – many require legislation.2Annex A: Key measures for changing the regulatory regime for social housing 

Social housing regulation: proposed legislation

5. On 29 March 2022 the DLUHC published: 

  1. Social housing regulation: draft clauses;3Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Social housing regulation: draft clauses, 29 March 2022 and
  2. Social housing regulation: draft clauses – explanatory notes.4Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Social housing regulation: draft clauses – explanatory notes,  29 March 2022

6. Its says that:  

We are publishing these in draft now in recognition of the keen interest of tenants, residents and landlords in seeing progress on implementation of the White Paper commitments. We continue to encourage landlords to consider what action they can take now to prepare for the new regulatory regime that will be enabled by this legislation.5Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Policy paper Social housing regulation: draft clauses (29 March 2022)

7. These changes require primary legislation, which will be introduced when Parliamentary time allows. 

 

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