Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure registered providers of social housing meet their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 in their work with their (a) tenants and (b) employees.

All registered providers of social housing are required to comply with the Equality Act 2010. This applies to their interactions with both tenants and employees.

Registered providers are also required to deliver the outcomes of the regulatory standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing. Under the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard, registered providers are required to treat tenants with fairness and respect and take action to deliver fair and equitable outcomes for them as well as, where relevant, prospective tenants.

Since the introduction of the proactive consumer regulation regime in April 2024, the Regulator has begun carrying out regular inspections of large providers to ensure they are delivering the outcomes of its standards. The Regulator has strong enforcement powers to take effective action when it identifies serious failings.

Under the Regulator’s Governance and Financial Viability standard, registered providers must ensure governance arrangements adhere to all relevant law.