Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on the creation of an independent regulator of social housing.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Regulator of Social Housing became a standalone organisation on 1 October 2018. This was delivered through the Legislative Reform (Regulator of Social Housing) (England) Order 2018.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 15 of the Government Response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee Report on the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Next Steps, published in September 2018, which building owners he has written to to remind them of their responsibilities to undertake remediation action where potentially dangerous ACM cladding has been used.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We have written to owners of buildings with dangerous Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) which have no clear remediation plan in place and to those who have suggested that they will pass remediation costs to leaseholders. We have reminded them of their responsibilities for the safety of residents and of the Secretary of State’s expectation that leaseholders should be protected from these costs.
We have also highlighted that, where building owners do not take action, local authorities have extensive enforcement powers to ensure that this necessary remediation work is undertaken. In addition, we have recently written to private sector building owners with high-rise buildings that contain small or partial amounts of cladding to inform them that the Expert Panel have advised that the clearest way to ensure the safety of residents is to remove all ACM, including small or partial areas, and replace it with a safe material.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Regulator of Social Housing has taken since the departure of the chief executive of Clarion Housing Group to ensure that its repairs and housing management services for tenants do not deteriorate.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Regulator of Social Housing continues to monitor the level of complaints and referrals from Clarion tenants and will take appropriate action in the event that these indicate a breach of its standards that risks serious harm to tenants. We understand that Clarion have now appointed a new Chief Executive.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October to Questions 178312, what the timetable is for the Regulator of Social Housing to advertise for the appointment of the additional board member; and what steps he is taking to ensure that social housing tenants are made aware of those posts.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Recruitment for additional members to the Regulator of Social Housing Board will commence shortly. The posts will be advertised through a range of sources and will be promoted via our stakeholder networks.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many applicants were interviewed for the two new posts as Board Members of the Regulator of Social Housing in January and February 2018.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
A total of five candidates were interviewed for the most recruitment for Board members to the Regulator of Social Housing (then known as the HCA Regulation Committee).
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the board of the Regulator of Social Housing will have a role in determining the threshold for the serious detriment test used to establish the governance-rating of housing associations.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, the Regulator may only intervene in the breach of consumer standards if there is a significant risk that, if no action is taken by the Regulator, the failure will result in a serious detriment to the tenants or potential tenants. The Regulator interprets the meaning of “serious detriment” to be when there is risk of, or actual, serious harm to tenants. The Regulator publishes further information about its approach to regulation here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/698332/Regulating_the_Standards_April_2018.pdf.
As part of our review of the regulatory system for social housing we have consulted on whether “serious detriment” remains the appropriate threshold for enforcement action. We are considering responses to the consultation. The Regulator of Social Housing and other stakeholders including residents would have the opportunity to input on the detail of any proposals for change.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2018 to Question 178310, if he will ensure that as part of its In-Depth Assessment process the Regulator of Social Housing makes inquiries with tenants into their perception of the performance of a downgraded housing association before reaching a decision whether to upgrade that organisation.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Regulator of Social Housing operates independently within the framework set by legislation. The Regulator takes a co-regulatory approach, which means it regards board members as responsible for meeting the regulatory standards and demonstrating its assurance that the standards are being met. The Regulator publishes further information about its approach to regulation and In-Depth Assessments here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/698332/Regulating_the_Standards_April_2018.pdf.
We are currently reviewing the regulatory system for social housing to ensure that, amongst other things, it protects and empowers tenants and have consulted on enabling the Regulator to take a more rigorous and proactive approach to consumer standards where necessary.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 123615, what opportunities were given to tenants and leaseholders of social landlords to provide evidence to the Tailored Review of the Homes and Communities Agency in 2016.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
During the Homes and Community Agency Tailored Review of the Homes and Communities Agency in 2016, there was an online call for evidence throughout the month of March in 2016 where the public was given the opportunity to offer responses online. As set out in the Annexes of the published review in total, there were 121 substantive responses from the public.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, by what process were the new Board Members of Homes England recruited.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Appointments to the Homes England Board are made in line with the Cabinet Office Governance Code for Public Appointments and are subject to scrutiny by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Asked by: Rushanara Ali (Labour - Bethnal Green and Bow)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who has been a member on the board of the (a) Homes and Communities Agency and (b) Social Housing Regulator and its predecessor regulation committee since May 2010.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
This information is publically available through organisations' Annual Reports and Accounts. Between May 2010 and March 2012 the Regulation of Social Housing was conducted by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). During this time there was no Regulation Committee as the TSA's Board carried out this role.
Links to the relevant reports are as follows:
TSA 2009/10 - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247924/0326.pdf
HCA
Since the latest Annual Report and Accounts were published the following changes have been made to each board/committee membership:
Regulation Committee
Richard Hughes - joined - 16 April 2018
Paul Smee - joined - 16 April 2018
Homes England Board
Simon Dow (Regulation Committee Chair) - departed - 30 September 2018
Duncan Sutherland - joined - 1 November 2018
Ceri Smith (Shareholder Representative member) - joined - 1 November 2018
In October 2018 the Regulator for Social Housing became an independent organisation.
However, membership of the existing Regulation Committee at that time was retained.