1.2 New policy and upcoming changes to drive up standards in social housing

Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023

The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 marks the biggest change to social housing regulation in a decade. It will reform the regulatory regime to facilitate significant change in social landlords’ behaviour, making sure that they focus on the needs of their residents, and are held to account for their performance.^{[footnote 23]} The Act underpins a new, proactive approach to regulating social housing landlords on issues such as decency, safety, transparency, conduct of staff and resident engagement, with new enforcement powers to tackle failing landlords.

The Housing Ombudsman Service has also been strengthened through the Act, with powers to order a registered provider to review their policy or practice on matters that may give rise to further complaints, and to issue a complaint handling code and good practice guidance. More information on the Housing Ombudsman can be found under the enforcement section of this consultation.

HHSRS review and updated guidance

Over the last two years, a sounding board of experts and stakeholders from across the sector have been contributing to a review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. The review aimed to streamline the process that local councils take in inspecting properties to assess hazards and make it easier for landlords and residents to understand the standards required. Therefore, reviewing and updating the HHSRS is integral to the government’s commitment to ensuring that all residents have a safe and decent standard of housing, free from dangerously hazardous conditions. The government has now concluded and published the HHSRS review and will agree next steps in due course.^{[footnote 24]}

Damp and mould guidance

As previously mentioned, the government has published guidance (Damp and mould: understanding and addressing the health risks for rented housing providers) on the health risks of damp and mould in the home for housing providers in the social and private rented sectors.

The guidance is designed to consolidate existing information and does not represent a change in the regulatory landscape governing damp and mould in the home. The guidance focuses on the health impacts of damp and mould and the vulnerabilities of different groups. It sets out what landlords (both private and social), housing professionals and residents should do to deal with mould, with an emphasis on landlord responsibilities such as responding promptly and sensitively, and understanding and addressing the underlying causes of damp and mould. It covers issues related to condensation, such as poor ventilation, low indoor temperature, and poor energy efficiency, and how landlords should work with residents to help them understand what they can do to reduce damp and mould.

Landlords should take this guidance into account to inform their investigations regarding damp and mould in their properties.