Social Housing Regulator launches consumer standard consultation in the run-up to deregulatory measures

The HCA is consulting on the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard alongside publication of transitional guidance

The Homes and Communities Agency has today (8 February 2017) launched a statutory consultation to clarify and strengthen one of its consumer standards. The regulator is also publishing information to help providers understand how it will manage the transition to the new notifications and registrations requirements, which will replace the consents regime; this will include information about how it will approach applications in progress and any on-going restructures, including mergers.

From 6 April 2017, the de-regulatory measures of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 will come into force. This means that registered providers will no longer have to obtain the regulator’s consent to undertake disposals, restructures, and certain constitutional changes. As a consequence to the consents powers being withdrawn, we are proposing to strengthen the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard to ensure that providers carry out effective consultation with the tenants affected.

Fiona MacGregor, Executive Director of Regulation said:

"Whilst many providers carry out effective consultation with tenants we are strengthening our requirements in this area and are consulting on a specific revision to the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard. We are writing to all registered providers and look forward to hearing people’s views.

"Although the government’s de-regulatory measures from April will give greater freedoms to providers; these will need to be managed responsibly. Providers will still need to adhere to regulatory standards and take into account the potential impact on their reputation and that of the sector."

The TIE consultation runs for 6 weeks and will close at 5pm on 22 March 2017. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, we will publish an updated TIE Standard in May 2017.

The statutory consultation paper and the information about the transitional arrangements are available on the HCA website. Further detailed guidance on the notifications and registrations process will be published in March alongside consequential changes to our registration criteria.