Letter to landlords - advice on preparation of your next Annual Assurance Statement, due to submit to us by 31 October 2025
Dear colleague,
I am writing to provide advice on preparation of your next Annual Assurance Statement which you are due to submit to us by 31 October 2025.
In February 2024 we published revised guidance to support landlords when they are completing the Annual Assurance Statements. This guidance explains we may ask landlords to provide specific assurance on a particular issue in the Annual Assurance Statement.
This year, we have decided to continue with our request that landlords provide specific assurance on their compliance with relevant obligations in relation to tenant and resident safety. This will provide us with specific assurance that landlords are continuing to comply with their obligations in this important area.
In January 2025 we published updated indicators for the Annual Return on the Charter (ARC) which included new indicators on fire and electrical safety and damp and mould which landlords will submit to us by the end of May 2026. From May 2026 we will therefore receive assurance about fire and electrical safety and damp and mould via the ARC.
In the Annual Assurance Statement to be submitted this year please confirm whether you meet all duties in relation to tenant and resident safety, and in particular that you have obtained appropriate assurance about your compliance with all relevant safety requirements including:
- Gas safety
- Electrical safety
- Water safety
- Fire safety
- Asbestos
- Damp and Mould
- Lift safety
The SFHA Self Assurance Toolkit may provide you with further information on the requirements on landlords in relation to tenant and resident safety, as will the SFHA’s advice note for governing body members on dealing with damp and mould.
In 2024 we carried out a programme of visits to landlords to discuss their Annual Assurance Statements. During the visits we asked how landlords had assured themselves about compliance with their duties in relation to tenant and resident safety and for Registered Social Landlords how the Governing Body is assured about its approach to financial planning. We published a report on the findings from the Annual Assurance Statement visits to share lessons learned.
I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any questions about your Annual Assurance Statement, please contact your Engagement Plan lead officer.
Best wishes
Michael Cameron
Chief Executive