The G15 has responded to the Regulator of Social Housing’s call for evidence on how economic regulation can support the delivery of more and better social homes.
The call for evidence is an early stage in the Regulator’s review of economic regulation and will help shape proposals ahead of a formal consultation on changes to the economic standards in 2027.
Our response starts from the principle that regulation should support good outcomes for residents, protecting their homes and services today while creating the conditions to provide more social and affordable homes for people who need them in the future.
We highlight the importance of clear accountability. Boards should remain responsible for decisions about strategy, investment and risk, informed by resident priorities and supported by strong resident engagement and governance arrangements. The Regulator should set clear outcomes, test the quality of the evidence and assurance behind those decisions, and act where landlords are not meeting the standards expected of them.
Across G15 members, residents already influence decision-making through a range of formal governance, scrutiny and engagement arrangements. Our response argues that this should continue to inform how landlords set priorities, assess risks and make decisions about their homes and services.
Providing safe, good-quality homes and services for existing residents will always be the first priority. That means continuing to invest significantly in repairs, building safety, tackling damp and mould, decency, energy efficiency, regeneration and the services residents rely on.
Since 2020, members have spent £8.8bn on repairs and maintenance, which is equivalent to around £4m every day for the past six years.
At the same time, social landlords have a responsibility to future residents and to the many people who urgently need a secure, affordable home, including families living in temporary accommodation and people facing homelessness. Investment in existing homes and building new ones draws on the same financial resources and organisational capacity, so these decisions cannot be considered in isolation. Our response calls for the future framework to look at the whole picture, including the condition of existing homes, resident priorities, local housing need and the capacity to provide more homes over the long term.
Our response also supports a more targeted approach to regulation, with greater scrutiny where risks or potential consequences are greatest. Serious or repeated problems affecting residents locally should inform the Regulator’s assessment of a landlord, particularly where they point to wider weaknesses in governance, assurance, data or compliance.
At the same time, new regulatory requirements should be clear, proportionate and focused on areas where they add meaningful assurance or improve outcomes. The wider regulatory framework is changing significantly, and it is important that new requirements work coherently with existing expectations around consumer standards, building safety, home quality and resident services.
G15 members remain committed to improving the homes and services provided to existing residents and increasing the supply of social and affordable housing. The future framework should support landlords to make well-evidenced, accountable decisions about how they achieve these objectives over the long term, while maintaining the financial strength needed to protect residents and their homes.