The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published a non-compliant Regulatory Notice (RN) for Easy Housing Association, as the provider has breached the RSH’s Economic Standards. Easy’s business model is to enter short term leases in Birmingham and use the properties to provide supported exempt accommodation. As Easy has less than 1,000 homes it does not have a published Regulatory Judgement (RJ).
In publishing the RN the RSH said:
“Following an investigation the regulator found that Easy Housing Association, a provider of supported exempt accommodation, is inadequately governed and that the board has failed to oversee the organisation with an appropriate level of skill and foresight. Easy Housing Association did not provide assurance that its board has appropriate experience or technical competence, and did not show evidence that it was addressing these skills gaps.
Because of these failures in governance, Easy Housing Association also failed to assure the regulator that it complies with the home standard and that tenants are not at risk of harm.
The regulator found that Easy Housing Association’s approach to business planning was inadequate and it did not plan appropriately for the risks associated with its lease arrangements. Its financial forecasting was also weak and it did not carry out appropriate stress testing of its business plan. In addition, Birmingham City Council has stated that one of Easy Housing Association’s properties was established without the required planning permission.
Easy Housing Association has not been able to demonstrate that its homes meet the definition of social housing, or that it complies with the rent standard”.
All of the RJs, RNs and Grading Under Review listings published by the RSH can be viewed on the RSH’s website here.