August 2023 - update on government’s work to improve the quality of social housing
The government has a programme of reform to improve the quality of social housing. Each month, progress on our commitments is shared on these pages, as part of our commitment to respond to the tragic death of 2 year old Awaab Ishak.
Applies to England
The government is committed to improving the quality of social housing in England.
In response to the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak, we are reforming the sector so that every tenant has a decent and safe home.
We report our progress every month.
Regulator of Social Housing consultation on new consumer standards
Now that the Social Housing Regulation Act has achieved Royal Assent, the Regulator is consulting on and reviewing its consumer standards to ensure they are up to date, are aligned with regulatory changes delivered by legislation, and continue to deliver their objectives which have been revised by the Act. The Regulator has launched its consultation on revised consumer standards.
Making sure tenants’ voices are heard
Resident Panel
The Social Housing Quality Resident Panel continues to play an invaluable role in shaping social housing policy. It brings together residents from across England to directly and regularly share their views with government on social housing quality policies.
The work of the Resident Panel is also shared with with all social housing residents through reports on the Panel’s work.
In August we published our first set of Social Housing Quality Resident Panel Reports.
This set out the Panel’s assessments on making complaints, getting repairs and general maintenance right as well as the new Awaab’s Law, and the proposed Access to Information Scheme.
Four Million Homes
Our Four Million Homes programme provides free information, guidance, and training on residents’ rights. It will run until March 2025.
It helps residents to work with their landlords and make sure homes and neighbourhoods are well-maintained, clean and safe.
During August we reviewed activity and progress since we launched in April, to refine the programme and ensure we are responding to feedback from residents. We also continued with our programme of free training and held a webinar on leaseholder management.
Looking ahead
Below is our planned activity over the coming months and years. All timings are indicative and subject to change
Immediate next steps (by autumn / winter)
To further improve social housing quality, we plan to launch consultations on:
- the Decent Homes Standard
- minimum energy efficiency standards (to be included in the new Decent Homes Standard)
- time limits for repairs and hazards (Awaab’s Law)
- directions to the Regulator relating to tenant rights and complaints
- competence and conduct standards for social housing landlords
- supported housing regulatory oversight
- social housing rent policy from 2025
- the Access to Information Scheme
- Housing Ombudsman Service complaints handing code, via the Housing Ombudsman Service
We also plan to publish:
- our consultation response on changes to electrical safety requirements
- case studies on good practice approaches to dealing with anti-social behaviour
- new guidance for the housing sector on the health impacts of damp and mould in homes.
Further free training and resources under our Four Million Homes Programme will be available from September.
In-person sessions in Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds and London will be held on:
- the importance of resident panels
- running effective residents’ associations
- social housing legal requirements.
We are rerunning online modules on:
- know your rights to engage and be heard (4 September)
- equality, diversity, and inclusion (25 September).
All training can be booked online, where you can also sign up for the Four Million Homes newsletter to be kept up-to-date with the very latest training and resources.
Activities ahead of the consumer regime go-live date (April 2024)
- the Regulator will publish its decision statement and standards for its new consumer regulation regime, following its consultation which closes on 17 October 2023
- the Housing Ombudsman will launch a consultation for its members on their new power to publish good practice guidance.
From April 2024
The Regulator of Social Housing’s new - consumer regulatory regime will be implemented.
Autumn 2024
Publication of the first Tenant Satisfaction Measures data, provided by landlords to the Regulator.
Further information and resources
More details on our reforms can be found on the Social Housing Quality page.
Find information and guidance on social housing residents’ rights and the services landlords are required to provide at Four Million Homes guidance.