Guidance

Register and de-register as a provider of social housing

This page provides details on how to register or de-register as a social housing provider and includes application forms.

Applies to England

Documents

Guidance for new entrants on applying for registration as a provider of social housing - September 2023

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Becoming a registered provider - May 2019

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De-registration guidance

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Application form for voluntary de-registration

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Fee Payment Information

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Details

In accordance with the regulator’s fee-charging scheme, a fixed application fee is payable at the start of each application stage for new applications received after 30 June 2024. The level of fee payable at each stage is set out in the fees guidance

Applications will only be considered when an invoice has been paid and in order for the invoice to be issued, applicants should complete the Fee Payment Information form and submit, together with its application form. Applications that are in train on 30 June 2024 will be processed under the previous fee regime.

Register as a provider of social housing

The guide on this page, Becoming a registered provider, aims to help individual organisations make informed decisions about whether seeking registration with the regulator is the right decision for them. It covers the common misconceptions about registration and the main issues that applicants encounter in seeking to demonstrate that they meet requirements.

The registration criteria and the application process are explained in the Guidance for new entrants.

To register as a provider of social housing you should first complete the Preliminary application form on this page – this will allow us to check whether you meet the eligibility requirements of registration.

If you meet the eligibility requirements at the Preliminary application stage, you will be invited to complete the Detailed application form. Guidance on completing the application forms is included within each form.

Under section 114A of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, local authorities who begin to provide social housing are subject to compulsory registration and should notify us by emailing enquiries@rsh.gov.uk.

De-register as a provider of social housing

The regulator is undertaking a review of deregistration policy and will update the guidance and requirements shortly.

In the first instance, please see De-registration requirements 2018.

Details of eligibility and de-registration criteria are in the De-registration guidance.

If you want to de-register as a provider of social housing, you should complete the Application form for de-registration as a provider of social housing. The form will assist us in obtaining the correct information at the outset from providers applying for de-registration. Please ensure that you read the accompanying guidance before completing your application. Once we have received the completed application form we will give you an estimate of how long we think the process will take.

Where to send applications to register or de-register

Applications to register or to de-register should be emailed to RNTeam@rsh.gov.uk.

Either application can be posted to:

Referrals and Regulatory Enquiries team
Regulator of Social Housing
Level 2
7-8 Wellington Place
Leeds LS1 4AP

How to make general queries

For general queries on registering or de-registering (but not applications) please contact the Referrals and Regulatory Enquiries team on 0300 124 5225 or enquiries@rsh.gov.uk.

Notifications of restructures, constitutional changes and disposals - and registering a restructured body

See the Restructures and constitutional changes page for guidance and notification forms, including registration of a restructured body.

See the Notification of disposals page for guidance and notification forms.

List of registered providers and the information required by RSH

See the Current registered providers of social housing page for a list of registrations and de-registrations.

See the Information required from registered providers page for guidance on RSH requirements.

Privacy notice

The Regulator is committed to protecting your privacy and the security of your personal data. Please read our privacy notice to find out more about how we do this.

Updates to this page

Published 1 December 2020
Last updated 18 July 2024 + show all updates
  1. Update to 'Fee payment information' form

  2. Addition of information about fee-charging scheme

  3. Guidance for new entrants and Preliminary application form for new entrant registration updated to reflect new provisions in the Social Housing (Regulation) Act.

  4. First published.

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