Most RSLs have coped well over the last year with the short term financial impact of the pandemic and have maintained a strong aggregate financial position, says Regulator

Updated

07 May 2021

Most Registered social landlords (RSLs) have coped well over the last year with the short term financial impacts of the pandemic. But, RSLs need to plan to respond to future financial risks and challenges. This is the key finding of a new report published today by the Scottish Housing Regulator.

The Regulator’s report is the outcome of its national analysis of RSL finances for 2019-20 and the immediate financial impact of the pandemic on RSLs.

Shaun Keenan, Assistant Director of Financial Regulation, said:

“At March 2020 most Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) were managing their resources to ensure their financial well-being, while maintaining rents at affordable levels. So, RSLs entered the pandemic in a strong financial position and, based on the 2020/21 monthly returns, have coped well over the last year with the short term financial impact of the pandemic. That said, RSLs are likely to face considerable challenges as they recover out of the pandemic in managing their resources to ensure their financial well-being, while maintaining rents at a level that tenants can afford to pay.”

Read the National Analysis of the Finances of Registered Social Landlords

Read all of the statistical information about RSL finances

Notes to editors

  1. The Scottish Housing Regulator was established on 1 April 2011 under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010. Its objective is to safeguard and promote the interests of tenants and others who use local authority and RSL housing services. The Regulator operates independently of Scottish Ministers and is accountable directly to the Scottish Parliament. It assumed its full regulatory responsibilities on 1 April 2012. The Regulator consists of the Chair and six Board members. More information about the Regulator can be found on its website at www.housingregulator.gov.scot
  2. SHR sets out how it regulates social landlords in its published framework – Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland.
  3. SHR publish the statistical information for social landlords on its website at https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/landlord-performance/statistical-information
  4. The Regulator published its last full analysis of the finances of RSLs in March 2018 Summary of the findings of our analysis of RSL finances 2018 | Scottish Housing Regulator