The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 has received Royal Assent to become law. The Act introduces a range of changes including:
- strengthening the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) to carry out regular inspections of the largest social housing providers
- giving the RSH the power to issue unlimited fines to rogue social landlords
- giving the Housing Ombudsman additional powers to publish best practice guidance to landlords following investigations into tenant complaints
- powers to set strict time limits for social landlords to address hazards such as damp and mould (Awaab’s Law)
- new qualification requirements for social housing managers and
- introducing stronger economic powers to follow inappropriate money transactions outside of the sector.
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said “Today is an important step towards righting the wrongs of the past. Our landmark laws will drive up standards of social housing and give residents a proper voice. The Social Housing Act will help to ensure that tenants get the safe, warm and decent homes they deserve – and those who have seriously neglected their responsibilities for far too long will face the consequences. Awaab’s Law will force social landlords to take immediate action on dangerous damp and mould as we introduce new strict time limits to fix their homes. I am incredibly grateful to Awaab [Ishak]’s family who have displayed such courage, dignity and leadership in pushing for change and securing these vital reforms”.