Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department has taken to ensure accommodation owned by social housing landlords meet the Decent Homes Standard.

All social housing landlords are responsible for ensuring they provide safe and decent homes.

The Regulator of Social Housing's Home Standard requires all registered providers to meet the existing Decent Homes Standard and have an appropriate approach to repairs and maintenance. In line with the Regulator's current remit in relation to consumer regulation, where the regulator receives referrals in relation to the Home standard, it assesses them as part of its consumer regulation processes, engaging with the provider to seek further information on the issues reported to them. Following an investigation, where the Regulator finds that a breach (or potential breach) of the consumer standards has resulted in, or could result in, serious detriment to tenants (or potential tenants), it publishes a regulatory notice setting out its findings.

Through the Social Housing Regulation Bill, we are facilitating the introduction of proactive consumer regulation, meaning the Regulator will proactively seek assurances that providers are meeting the standards, including through regular inspections of large providers. We are also lowering the threshold for the Regulator's use of enforcement powers following breaches of the consumer standards.