Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2018 to Question 178310, if he will ensure that as part of its In-Depth Assessment process the Regulator of Social Housing makes inquiries with tenants into their perception of the performance of a downgraded housing association before reaching a decision whether to upgrade that organisation.

The Regulator of Social Housing operates independently within the framework set by legislation. The Regulator takes a co-regulatory approach, which means it regards board members as responsible for meeting the regulatory standards and demonstrating its assurance that the standards are being met. The Regulator publishes further information about its approach to regulation and In-Depth Assessments here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/698332/Regulating_the_Standards_April_2018.pdf.

We are currently reviewing the regulatory system for social housing to ensure that, amongst other things, it protects and empowers tenants and have consulted on enabling the Regulator to take a more rigorous and proactive approach to consumer standards where necessary.