Record Number Of ‘Serious Detriment’ Cases In 2019/20, Says RSH

 The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) determined that 15 breaches of its consumer standards met the “serious detriment” test, up from six in 2018/19. In its eighth annual consumer regulation review setting out themes and lessons from the cases, the RSH said this “significant” increase was driven by referrals relating to local authority landlords. Reports to the RSH of potential consumer standards breaches at councils were up more than three-quarters (76%) on the previous year and the regulator found there was a “serious detriment” in seven cases. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/record-number-of-serious-detriment-cases-in-201920-says-rsh-67984

One In 10 Associations Believe Regulator Could Do More To Tackle Breaches

In its second annual survey of stakeholders, the RSH asked a new question over whether it takes “appropriate action” where consumer standards have been breached or tenants have been at “significant risk of detriment”. Of the organisations that completed the question, 10% of respondents disagreed that the regulator took appropriate action, while 2% strongly disagreed. Of the larger housing associations, 6% either disagreed or strongly disagreed, while 12% of small associations disagreed. Overall 28% of respondents referred to as ‘other stakeholders’ – including tenant groups – said they disagreed the regulator was doing enough. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/one-in-10-associations-believe-regulator-could-do-more-to-tackle-breaches-64001?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/one-in-10-associations-believe-regulator-could-do-more-to-tackle-breaches-64001?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Social Rented Housing: Regulation – Parliamentary Written Answer

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 94 of the Social Housing Green Paper and paragraph 19 of the Review of Social Housing Regulation call for evidence, whether the proposals for changes to the threshold of the serious detriment test used in the consumer home standard would require the introduction of new legislation.

Kit Malthouse: As part of the review of social housing regulation we will consider whether serious detriment remains the right threshold for intervention, and any change to this threshold will require amendment to primary legislation.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-12/178503

‘Cashback’ Name Dropped From Tenant Repairs Scheme

One of the housing providers who have been piloting the tenant cashback policy is dropping the name ‘cashback’ from the title. Grant Shapps attempted to kick-start his plans to allow tenants to control their repairs budget last month. He urged landlords “not to deny” their tenants the opportunity to take it up when it comes in this month. As part of the plans, tenants can request to set it up with their landlord.  However, landlords have voiced concerns about the scheme and feel the policy has no “statutory backing” under the new regulatory regime where the regulator – a committee inside the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) – will intervene only if there is “serious detriment” to the tenant.  One said: “It’s highly unregulatable as there is no statutory backing to this. If a landlord fails to offer the scheme is that ‘serious detriment’ to tenants?”  The Together Group had been piloting a ‘sustainable tenancies’ model but a spokesman said the word ‘cashback’ was misleading.  Read more on 24dash.

Regulator Will Not Define ‘Serious Detriment’ Clause

The social housing regulator has said there will be no clear definition of the ‘serious detriment’ that will see it intervene in consumer regulation cases. Deborah Ilott, strategic regulation manager at the TSA, said: ‘We can’t define precisely what serious detriment means because it will vary from case to case. But generally speaking it will involve a breach of one of the consumer standards and some action that is likely to cause harm to tenants. The most obvious examples are in relation to gas safety.’ From April, when responsibility for regulation shifts from the Tenant Services Authority to the Homes and Communities Agency, the regulator will only intervene on consumer regulation cases where there is serious detriment. Read more on Inside Housing.