About us

RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver and maintain homes of appropriate quality that meet a range of needs.


Our role and fundamental objectives

The objectives of the regulator are set out in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (as amended).

The terms social housing and registered provider are defined in the 2008 Act. Social housing includes low-cost rental (such as affordable rent properties) and low-cost home ownership. Registered providers of social housing include local authority landlords and private registered providers (such as not-for-profit housing associations, co-operatives, and for-profit organisations).

We undertake economic regulation of providers of social housing registered with us, focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. We also set consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants. From April 2024, we are introducing a new integrated regulatory approach, with proactive regulation of the consumer standards.

Economic

  • to ensure that providers of social housing, who are registered with us, are financially viable and properly managed and perform their functions efficiently, effectively and economically
  • to support provision of social housing sufficient to meet reasonable demands (including by encouraging and promoting private investment in social housing)
  • to ensure that value for money is obtained from public investment in housing
  • to avoid the imposition of an unreasonable burden (directly or indirectly) on public funds.
  • to guard against the misuse of public funds.

Consumer

  • to support the provision of social housing that is well-managed, safe, energy efficient and of appropriate quality
  • to ensure that actual or potential tenants of social housing have an appropriate degree of choice and protection
  • to ensure that tenants of social housing have the opportunity to be involved in its management and hold their landlords to account
  • to ensure that registered providers act in a transparent manner in relation to their tenants of social housing, and
  • to encourage RPs to contribute to the environmental, social and economic well-being of the areas in which the housing is situated.

To achieve the objectives, we:

  • register and de-register providers of social housing subject to them meeting our eligibility requirements and registration criteria

  • gather intelligence to inform our assessment of a registered provider by reviewing their submitted quarterly survey returns; carrying out annual stability checks of their business plan and annual accounts; and undertaking periodic In Depth Assessments using a risk-based approach to assess providers’ financial strength, risk profile, approach to value for money and their quality of governance

  • assess and grade through published regulatory judgements to report how well registered providers are managing their risks

  • investigate cases where a provider is susceptible to issues crystallising, and carry out enforcement to secure solutions

  • identify and communicate emerging trends and risks at a sector and sub-sector level and maintain confidence of stakeholders, such as lenders.

Our statutory duty

As part of our role, which is set by Parliament, we have a statutory duty to carry out our work in a way that minimises interference and, as far as is possible, is proportionate, consistent, transparent and accountable. We must also operate within the provisions of the government’s Regulators’ Code.

While the Chair of the RSH Board is accountable to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Chief Executive, as accounting officer, has a separate direct line of accountability to Parliament as well for the discharge of our fundamental objectives.

More information about the Regulatory standards that registered providers must meet and our approach to regulation can be found in:

Our priorities

  1. Ensure we have appropriate understanding of sector-level risks

  2. Deliver proportionate, assurance-based co-regulation focused on risk

  3. Ensure we are forward thinking and responsive to changes in the external operating environment

  4. Ensure we are an efficient and effective organisation.

Our values

  • We are professional and collaborative, showing respect and courtesy to colleagues and stakeholders.

  • We embrace diversity and seek to be an inclusive and supportive organisation.

  • We are confident in our ability to deliver effective and efficient regulation.

  • We act with integrity to reach evidence-based decisions.

  • We are agile and react positively to change.

More information can be found in:

Our publications

We publish:

You can also see our Publication Scheme to find out about the other types of information we regularly publish, including guidance documents, consultations and news releases.

Our contact details

Email: enquiries@rsh.gov.uk or call: 0300 124 5225

See our homepage for further details.

Our offices

Manchester office

This is our registered office. It is also the address for service of any legal documents on RSH.

Regulator of Social Housing
Level 1A – City Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester M1 4BT

Leeds office

This is the address for general correspondence and enquiries.

Regulator of Social Housing
Level 2
7-8 Wellington Place
Leeds LS1 4AP

London office

Regulator of Social Housing
Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
Westminster
London SW1P 4DF

Birmingham office


Regulator of Social Housing
23 Stephenson Street
Birmingham B2 4BH

Bristol office

Regulator of Social Housing
Rivergate
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6EH

Background

The regulation function transferred from the Homes and Communities Agency to the Regulator of Social Housing on 1 October 2018, in line with the Legislative Reform (Regulator of Social Housing)(England) Order 2018.

Corporate information

Access our information

Jobs and contracts

Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.