Regulator of Social Housing publishes the outcome of its consultation on revisions to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard.
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is set to introduce new measures aimed at increasing transparency for social housing tenants in England and raising standards across the sector.
RSH has published the outcome of its consultation on revisions to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard - including Social Tenant Access to Information (STAIRs) requirements - and a separate Competence and Conduct (C&C) standard.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had already consulted previously on C&C and STAIRs. The purpose of RSH's consultation was to ensure that the directions MHCLG gave as a result were accurately reflected in RSH's standards.
RSH originally consulted on the C&C requirements being part of the TIA standard. However, RSH carefully considered the feedback received through the consultation, and decided to create a separate C&C standard to increase its visibility for tenants and landlords.
The C&C requirements are aimed at driving greater professionalism and higher standards by ensuring relevant housing staff have the required skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to deliver a high standard of service to tenants.
Senior housing managers and executives will also be required to hold, or be working towards, a housing management qualification.
The STAIRs requirements will give tenants of private registered providers (PRPs) a similar level of access to information relating to the management of social housing that local authority tenants already have.
PRPs will have to proactively publish certain information about their activities that is set out in the government's policy statement, and tenants will be able to formally request relevant information and receive timely responses.
RSH Chief Executive Jonathan Walters said: "Greater transparency, stronger accountability and a stronger tenant voice are at the heart of these changes. They represent an important step towards improving outcomes for social housing tenants, helping residents better see and influence the services they receive.
"By supporting better engagement and consistent delivery of standards, these changes will help create a culture where tenant voices are heard, trust is strengthened, and the factors that can contribute to stigma are reduced."
The new standards come into force from October 2026, with transition periods for elements of the STAIRs and C&C requirements.
The consultation also asked for feedback on the introduction of a new electrical safety checks Tenant Satisfaction Measure (TSM) and this was introduced last month.
