Following a year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, the Regulator of Social Housing has resumed its usual practice of undertaking an annual stakeholder survey to find out more about issues in the social housing sector from a stakeholder perspective. The survey benchmarks sector satisfaction and, in particular, helps to gauge confidence in the Regulator. Overall, the outcomes of the August 2022 survey have been largely positive, particularly given the backdrop of the pandemic and associated challenges
The stakeholders surveyed in 2022 included registered providers (RPs) (comprising large (>1,000 units), small (< 1,000 units) and Local Authority RPs), lenders, investors, credit rating agencies, government departments, trade bodies and tenants. Generally, the interaction across all surveyed parties was higher than in previous years with a significant increase in tenants responding to the survey compared to 2020.
We summarise some of the survey’s key findings as follows:
- 80% of respondents agreed that:
- The regulatory framework and the Regulator’s approach to regulation are consistent with its objectives on economic regulation; and
- The Regulator meets its objectives to be proportionate and minimise interference.
- 79% of respondents agreed that the Regulator takes action where possible to ensure that confidence in the sector is maintained, and access to finance on competitive terms continues.
- 76% of respondents said they were very or somewhat confident that the Regulator will deliver the regulatory changes outlined in the Social Housing White Paper.
- 71% of respondents agreed that the Regulator takes appropriate action in line with its current remit in response to referrals where it finds consumer standards have been breached and tenants, or potential tenants, have been at significant risk of serious detriment.
- The Codes of Practice and Regulating the Standards were voted the most useful publications with 90% and 89% of respondents respectively stating that they were very or somewhat useful.
- Local Authority RPs and Large RPs submitted generally more positive responses than Small RPs.
The full survey results are available to view online at: