The Scottish Housing Regulator has made further adjustments to its regulatory approach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, following a consultation with landlords, tenants, people who are homeless, other service users, and lenders.
The Regulator today published a statement setting out the temporary adjustments it will make this year to enable it to fulfil its statutory objective and to support landlords to plan and manage the impact of the pandemic.
The changes include allowing landlords more time to complete their Annual Assurance Statement by extending the deadline this year from October to November 2020.
The Regulator has also extended the deadline for landlords to report to their tenants and service users on their performance against the Scottish Social Housing Charter from October to December.
To support landlords with the changes, the Regulator has also published new advice for landlords on completing Annual Assurance Statements and Business Planning.
George Walker, The Regulator’s Chair, said:
“We’ve made these adjustments to enable us to continue to fulfil our statutory objective and support landlords through these unprecedented times.
“I hope the statement and guidance we have published today help give clarity for landlords, tenants and other service users about how we will regulate in the coming months.
“We will keep the position in this statement under review to respond to any significant developments in relation to the national response to the pandemic.
“I would like to thank all of our stakeholders for their contributions and engagement through the consultation on the changes we proposed. We will continue to work closely with landlords to understand the challenges being experienced by tenants, people who are homeless and other service users.”
Read all of the information below:
Statement on our Regulatory Framework
Consultation feedback and our response
Business Planning: supplementary advice for landlords in response to COVID-19
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 seven Board members. More information about the Regulator can be found on its website at housingregulator.gov.scot
- SHR sets out how it regulates social landlords in its published framework – Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland.
- The Regulator launched its consultation on the temporary changes to its Regulatory Framework in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on 17 July https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/about-us/coronavirus-latest-news/housing-regulator-consults-on-temporary-changes-to-its-regulatory-framework-in-response-to-the-COVID-19-pandemic