The Scottish Housing Regulator has today published this year’s Annual Assurance Statements (Statements) submitted by social landlords. The Regulator requires all social landlords to submit a Statement each year to confirm that they meet regulatory standards and requirements or to set out how they will address any areas of non-compliance.
This year’s Statements reflect how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on social landlords’ ability to comply with requirements. In recognition of the pandemic, the Regulator extended the deadline for submission to 30th November and updated its guidance to help landlords complete this year’s Statements.
Michael Cameron, Chief Executive at the Regulator said
“We recognise the efforts landlords have made to prepare and submit their statements during the pandemic. We hope the process has helped them to identify the extent to which COVID-19 has impacted on their ability to deliver services and comply with requirements, and that this supports their recovery planning.
“We will assess the Statements as part of our annual risk assessment and start publishing Engagement Plans for each landlord from the end of March 2021. This will include a regulatory status for RSLs. In doing so we will take account of any non-compliance which is due to the pandemic.”
Notes to editors
- 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 eight Board members. More information about the Regulator can be found on its website at scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk
- SHR sets out how it regulates social landlords in its published framework – Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland. This is the second Annual Assurance Statement from landlords, since the requirement on 1st April 2019.