Consultation on new consumer standards launched

We have been waiting with baited breath for the consultation to launch to see what changes are coming to consumer regulation, so its a relief to finally see what is being proposed. Four draft standards are being consulted on and they are:

1. The Safety and Quality Standard - As expected there is a strong emphasis on tenant safety and housing quality. There is also more regulation relating to repairs and maintenance and new requirements in respect of adaptations. This standard will replace what now appears to be a very light touch, Home Standard. 
2. The Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard - This standard replaces the Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard and interestingly provides for a section on provision of information about landlord services and performance information (which cross refers to Tenant Satisfaction Measures). 
3. The Neighbourhood and Community Standard - This standard will replace the Neighbourhood and Community Standard and covers a lot of the same ground but with a broader application. A key provision to note is the section on domestic abuse and the requirement to have a policy for how to respond to cases of domestic abuse.
4. The Tenancy Standard - The proposed standard is not vastly different to the current Tenancy Standard and does not reflect the tenure reform proposed by the Renters Reform Bill. As such, this standard will have to change again once the Act is given royal assent - which we anticipate to be around this time next year. 

When reviewing the proposed standards, RPs must read them in conjunction with the Code of Practice (Annex 2 of the consultation documents) as this gives a lot more detail of the regulatory requirements detailed in the standards. 

In practical terms, RP's should be considering their current policies and procedures and to what end they will need amending and re-writing, and if any new policies will be required. 

RPs will be required to self-refer in a timely manner to the Regulator "on all material issues that relate to non-compliance or potential non-compliance with the consumer standards". There will no longer be the "serious detriment" test for the Consumer Standards, which highlights the shift change in approach by the Regulator. The revised standards are expected to come into force from April 2024.

The consultation closes at 6pm on 17 October 2023. Don't miss your opportunity to have a say in the consultation on the consumer standards.

If you would like to know more about the consultation, what it means for landlords and how to respond, then why not join our webinar this Friday, 28th July with Angela Holden, Assistant Director of Consumer Regulation, RSH and Donna McCarthy, Partner and Head of Housing Management and Property Litigation at Devonshires. Click here to sign up.