Social Housing Act, a significant legislature, gains the Queen's approval, now officially enacted as law

The UK government has taken a significant step towards improving the standards of social housing with the passing of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, which received Royal Assent recently. Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, announced that the new laws will drive up standards and give residents a proper voice in their communities.

One of the key reforms is Awaab's Law, named after a young boy who tragically died due to the neglect of his social landlord. This law will force social landlords to take immediate action on dangerous damp and mould, introducing strict time limits to fix their homes. The law is designed to ensure that all social housing providers, whether private registered providers or local authority landlords, address health and safety hazards within a specified timeframe.

The regulatory regime for social housing is expected to go live in April next year. The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) will have the power to carry out regular inspections of the largest social housing providers and issue unlimited fines to rogue social landlords. Enforcement powers will also be made available to tackle failing social housing landlords who are not taking swift action to address damp, cold, and unsafe homes.

The RSH will now have the ability to enter properties with only 48 hours' notice, ensuring that they can promptly address any issues that may arise. Fiona MacGregor, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RSH, encourages tenants, landlords, and others in the sector to have their say during the consultation on new consumer standards.

In addition to these measures, the new legislation will introduce stronger economic powers to follow inappropriate money transactions outside of the sector. New qualification requirements will be implemented for social housing managers, ensuring that they have the necessary skills to maintain high standards.

The new consumer standards for landlords will be published by the RSH in a future consultation. Landlords will need to demonstrate how they're providing good quality homes and services for tenants. The Housing Ombudsman will have additional powers to publish best practice guidance to landlords following investigations into tenant complaints.

Fiona MacGregor, in her role as CEO of the RSH, has announced plans related to social housing regulation, including commissioning independent reviews and promoting good governance under the Social Housing Regulation Act. She emphasises the need for collaboration and input from all stakeholders in the sector to ensure the success of these reforms.

These changes mark a significant shift in the social housing sector, aiming to improve living conditions for millions of tenants across the UK. The RSH is gearing up to start their new program of regulatory inspections from next April, signalling the beginning of a new era for social housing in the UK.