Decision

Livin Housing Limited (L4538) - Regulatory Judgement: 26 August 2026

Updated 26 August 2026

Applies to England

Our Judgement

	Grade/Judgement	Change	Date of assessment
Consumer	C1 Our judgement is that overall the landlord is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards. The landlord has demonstrated that it identifies when issues occur and puts plans in place to remedy and minimise recurrence.	Upgrade	August 2026
Governance	G1 Our judgement is that the landlord meets our governance requirements.	Based on previous assessment	January 2026
Viability	V1 Our judgement is that the landlord meets our viability requirements and has the financial capacity to deal with a wide range of adverse scenarios.	Based on previous assessment	January 2026

Reason for publication

We are publishing a regulatory judgement for Livin Housing Limited (Livin) following responsive engagement completed in August 2026.

This regulatory judgement upgrades our previous published assessment of Livin’s consumer grade from C2 to C1.

Prior to this regulatory judgement, Livin’s most recent consumer grade was C2 which was issued in November 2024 following a planned inspection that also confirmed a governance grade of G1 and financial viability grade of V2. Following a stability check and responsive engagement in January 2026, Livin’s financial viability grade was regraded from V2 to V1.

Summary of the decision

Following an inspection completed in November 2024, our subsequent responsive engagement with Livin focused on its progress in improving its delivery of the outcomes of our consumer standards.

From the evidence provided by Livin during the responsive engagement we have concluded that Livin is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards. Livin has made significant progress in relation to delivering the outcomes of the Safety and Quality Standard by strengthening its understanding of the condition of its homes. Based on this assessment, we have concluded a C1 upgrade for Livin.

Our judgement is that Livin meets our governance requirements. Based on our previous assessment, Livin’s governance grade remains at G1.

Our judgement is that Livin meets our viability requirements and has the financial capacity to deal with a wide range of adverse scenarios. Based on our previous assessment, Livin’s viability grade remains V1.

How we reached our judgement

We carried out an inspection of Livin, which concluded in November 2024, to assess how well it is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards and meeting our governance and financial viability requirements, as part of our planned regulatory inspection programme. During the inspection, we considered all four of the consumer standards: Neighbourhood and Community Standard, Safety and Quality Standard, Tenancy Standard, and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.

Following the inspection, we engaged with Livin to understand how it was addressing the issues identified during our inspection in relation to the outcomes of the Safety and Quality Standard. Our responsive engagement included discussions with Livin and reviewing evidence provided by Livin relating to its understanding of the condition of its homes at an individual property level. This included the delivery of its programme to survey the condition of its homes.

Our regulatory judgement about how well Livin is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards is based on all the relevant information we obtained during the inspection, subsequent responsive engagement and analysis of information from Livin through routine regulatory returns and other regulatory activity.

During the inspection we observed a board meeting, spoke with tenants, held meetings with Livin including its non-executive directors, and reviewed a wide range of documents provided by Livin.

Our judgement about how well Livin is delivering the governance and viability outcomes of our Governance and Financial Viability Standard is based on the inspection that concluded in November 2024, and stability check that concluded in January 2026. These included analysis of information received from Livin through routine regulatory returns and other regulatory activity.

Summary of findings  

Consumer – C1 – August 2026

Following the inspection that concluded in November 2024, we engaged with Livin to understand how it was addressing the issues identified during the inspection. These related to a lack of sufficient progress in delivering its programme of stock condition surveys regarding the condition of its homes, leading to weaknesses in Livin’s understanding of the condition of its homes at an individual property level and in the quality and breadth of information.

Through our responsive engagement, we have assurance that Livin has improved its understanding of the condition of its homes, through continued progress in its stock condition survey programme, which will be refreshed on an ongoing basis. These surveys include an assessment of compliance with the Decent Homes Standard. Livin uses this information to inform decision making on the future investment needed to provide good quality, well maintained and safe homes. Livin has also revised its asset management plan, improved reporting to board on the condition of its homes and improved its engagement with customers to improve access rates. 

In several areas we have not changed our view of the assurance gained during the November 2024 inspection, which also supports our assessment of a consumer grade of C1.

Our inspection found that, in relation to the Safety and Quality Standard, Livin had provided evidence-based assurance that it has appropriate systems in place to ensure the health and safety of its tenants in their homes and associated communal areas. Livin demonstrated that it understands its compliance position regarding landlord health and safety requirements. Its performance information demonstrated a good level of reported compliance with legal obligations.

Livin demonstrated that it provides an effective and timely repairs service to tenants. There is evidence it takes action to improve the service and outcomes for tenants when issues occur. Livin recognises the importance of its repairs service and has made changes to improve how tenants are able engage with the repairs service.

Through the inspection Livin evidenced that when tenant complaints are received, it considers them and makes service improvements in response. Livin’s board considers updates on the nature of complaints received and ensures that an approach is in place to ensure learning from complaints. 

In relation to the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, the inspection found that Livin is working in partnership with relevant organisations and with residents to deter and tackle anti-social behaviour and hate incidents in the neighbourhoods in which it operates. 

Through the inspection Livin demonstrated that, in line with the Tenancy Standard, it seeks to offer tenures that are appropriate, taking into account the purpose of the accommodation, the needs of individual households, the sustainability of the community and the efficient use of social housing.

Livin’s allocations policy sets out its approach to ensuring all properties are let in a fair and transparent way. We saw evidence during the inspection that Livin is committed to sustainability of tenancies and seeks to ensure tenants are supported accordingly.

In relation to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard we gained assurance during the inspection that Livin has put in place training and development of its staff to further develop a culture of fairness and respect. Livin demonstrates an active approach to considering tenants’ diverse needs in the design and delivery of services and presented appropriate assurance that the tenant information it holds is used to support the delivery of fair and equitable services.

Livin provides a wide range of opportunities for tenants to influence and scrutinise its strategies, policies and services. Evidence was provided during the inspection that there are clear arrangements in place through which Livin hears from tenants. There is also evidence that tenant scrutiny and feedback have directly and positively impacted service delivery. Livin has provided appropriate assurance that it makes effective use of its performance data to shape services and provides a range of information to tenants to support effective scrutiny.

Livin has strengthened the quality and consistency of performance reporting to board to ensure it has sufficient oversight of outcomes for tenants.

Governance – G1 – January 2026

Below are the findings of our most recent regulatory judgement about Livin’s delivery of our governance requirements, which assessed Livin’s governance grade as G1. The regulatory judgement was issued in January 2026 following a stability check and responsive engagement, which found no evidence to indicate that a change in governance grade was required since the inspection in November 2024.

During the inspection Livin evidenced that its governance arrangements enable it to effectively manage risk and adequately control the organisation, allowing it to deliver its objectives. Livin’s board demonstrated that it considers risk appetite in strategic decision making and that performance against strategic targets is monitored and challenged.

Livin provided appropriate assurance that its board proactively reviews its approach to delivering against its purpose and regularly considers alternative options to ensure it is achieving value for money in making best use of resources.

We saw evidence that Livin has established and maintains clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities within its leadership and governance structure. The relationship between its board and committees is working in line with its delegations to strengthen assurance in key areas of risk and compliance.

Continuing governance improvement is evidenced through annual effectiveness reviews and in depth periodic external governance reviews, the most recent of which at the time of the inspection was completed in December 2022.

Board member skills, experience and knowledge are aligned with the activities of the organisation and there is a structured approach to developing and appraising skills to support succession planning. We have seen evidence of this through board observation, meetings with non-executive directors and the executive team.

Livin’s risk management and control framework is aligned to its strategic risks. There is evidence of robust discussion and board challenge of the controls and assurance on strategic risks and of risks being managed effectively in practice. The inspection has identified some areas for improvement that Livin is committed to delivering.

Livin’s board actively seeks and gains an appropriate level of assurance across a range of areas. There is evidence of how this assurance has been used to make improvements including on the approach to damp and mould cases, its repairs service and its approach to anti-social behaviour.

Board ownership of stress testing, mitigation strategies and wider governance over risks through regular and structured review of golden rules is evident. Reporting to board provides sufficient detail for the board to ensure effective oversight.

Viability – V1 – January 2026

Below are the findings of our most recent regulatory judgement about Livin’s ability to meet the viability requirements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard, which regraded Livin’s viability grade to a V1. The regulatory judgement was issued in January 2026 following a stability check and responsive engagement.

Based on evidence gained from the stability check and responsive engagement, we have assurance that Livin meets the viability requirements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard.

We have concluded there is appropriate assurance that Livin’s financial plans are consistent with, and support, its financial strategy. Livin has evidenced that it has an adequately funded business plan, sufficient security in place to support its financial plans, and forecasts that it will continue to meet its financial covenants under a wide range of adverse scenarios. Since our previous assessment, Livin’s financial performance and resilience has strengthened.

We have appropriate assurance that Livin’s board has effective oversight of loan covenant compliance and there is evidence of strong levels of forecast headroom with no reliance on sales income. Livin forecasts strong loan covenant interest cover, while continuing to deliver its development programme and invest in existing homes.

Background to the judgement

About the landlord

Livin operates mainly in the North East of England, predominantly in County Durham, and owns around 9,000 homes.

Livin generated a turnover of £47.5m in the year ended 31 March 2025 and employed 135 full-time equivalent staff.

Our role and regulatory approach

We regulate for a viable, efficient, and well governed social housing sector able to deliver quality homes and services for current and future tenants.  

We regulate at the landlord level to drive improvement in how landlords operate. By landlord we mean a registered provider of social housing. These can either be local authorities, or private registered providers (other organisations registered with us such as non-profit housing associations, co-operatives, or profit-making organisations). 

We set standards which state outcomes that landlords must deliver. The outcomes of our standards include both the required outcomes and specific expectations we set. Where we find there are significant failures in landlords which we consider to be material to the landlord’s delivery of those outcomes, we hold them to account. Ultimately this provides protection for tenants’ homes and services and achieves better outcomes for current and future tenants. It also contributes to a sustainable sector which can attract strong investment. 

We have a different role for regulating local authorities than for other landlords. This is because we have a narrower role for local authorities and the Governance and Financial Viability Standard, and Value for Money Standard do not apply. Further detail on which standards apply to different landlords can be found on our standards page. 

We assess the performance of landlords through inspections and by reviewing data that landlords are required to submit to us. In Depth Assessments (IDAs) were one of our previous assessment processes, which are now replaced by our inspections programme from 1 April 2024. We also respond where there is an issue or a potential issue that may be material to a landlord’s delivery of the outcomes of our standards. We publish regulatory judgements that describe our view of landlords’ performance with our standards. We also publish grades for landlords with more than 1,000 social housing homes. 

The Housing Ombudsman deals with individual complaints. When individual complaints are referred to us, we investigate if we consider that the issue may be material to a landlord’s delivery of the outcomes of our standards.  

For more information about our approach to regulation, please see Regulating the Standards.

Further information

• Regulating the standards
• Regulatory standards for landlords

Related documents

• Decent Homes Standard