The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and the Charity Commission have published a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for regulatory cooperation between the two organisations. The MoU addresses the dual regulatory status of many private registered providers of social housing that are also registered charities. The agreement includes commitments to share information to discharge regulatory functions, raise issues at early stages that might have implications for the other organisation, signpost enquirers appropriately, discuss matters of mutual interest including stakeholder engagement, and avoid duplication while ensuring consistent treatment for dual-regulated bodies. The organisations will review the MoU every three years or after significant changes in legislation, policy or practice to ensure it reflects developments in working practices.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has announced that Chief Executive Fiona MacGregor will step down at the end of April 2026. MacGregor previously served as Executive Director of Regulation before becoming Chief Executive when RSH became a standalone body. RSH Chair Bernadette Conroy acknowledged MacGregor leadership during the RSH’s transition and the expansion of its remit to deliver consumer regulation alongside economic regulation. The process to appoint a successor will be overseen by Conroy in collaboration with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability (TI&A) Standard and the Consumer Standards Code of Practice. The consultation sets out updates to the TI&A Standard and its Code of Practice relating to competence and conduct requirements and Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements. These changes follow a direction from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) arising from its consultation on a competence and conduct standard for social housing, which concluded in September 2025. The proposals also include a new Tenant Satisfaction Measure on electrical safety checks, reflecting new safety requirements for landlords, alongside minor changes to existing Tenant Satisfaction Measures to ensure alignment with legislation. The consultation closes on 3 March 2026.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has downgraded Phoenix Community Housing Association (UK) Ltd to a G3 governance rating, indicating that the landlord does not meet governance requirements and there are issues of serious regulatory concern. RSH found that Phoenix lacked adequate systems and controls to ensure timely payments and continued covenant compliance, despite previous findings highlighting the need to strengthen its internal controls. RSH also identified delays in addressing skills gaps and board changes, with gaps in resourcing and oversight impacting overall governance effectiveness.  Phoenix’s consumer standard has also been downgraded to C2, indicating weaknesses that require improvement, specifically in relation to the Safety and Quality Standard, while its V2 viability grading remains unchanged.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published a regulatory judgment for A2Dominion Housing Group Ltd, concluding that A2Dominion has not met the required governance outcomes of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard. As a result, the RSH has downgraded A2Dominion to G3 status. The RSH has said that it lacks assurance that A2Dominion has 'a robust risk management, internal control and assurance framework that enables it to manage and mitigate risks’ and adequate data and systems.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has introduced a new Tenant Satisfaction Measure (TSM) for electrical safety checks. Large social housing landlords in England, meaning those with more than 1,000 homes, are required to publish the TSM for the first time covering the 2026/27 reporting year, with the first results based on the position as at 31 March 2027. Small landlords must publish results for their reporting years ending 31 March 2027 onwards. The measure forms part of the wider building safety TSMs. It covers statutory obligations within homes and communal areas and does not alter landlords' existing legal duties regarding electrical safety compliance, nor does it remove the requirement to self-report material issues relating to non-compliance or potential non-compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has issued a C4 grading to Northumberland County Council following a planned inspection that identified very serious failings requiring substantial change. The inspection found that the council: (1) maintains up-to-date condition information for only 3% of its homes; (2) has limited evidence of accurate recording or routine monitoring of health and safety assessments; (3) does not respond to all complaints in a timely manner; (4) provides insufficient opportunities for tenants to scrutinise performance and influence services and (5) demonstrates serious shortcomings in meeting the outcomes of the tenancy standard. The council is required to urgently develop a comprehensive improvement plan. Separately, RSH has placed Aves Housing on its gradings under review list while it investigates potential serious failings in delivering the outcomes of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard and the consumer standards.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has issued a C4 grading to Tandridge District Council following a planned inspection on 17 September 2025. The inspection identified multiple compliance issues, including over 1,000 overdue fire risk assessment remedial actions, nearly 400 homes without electrical safety condition checks and absent records from 2016 stock conditions surveys. The RSH reports the council lacks understanding of tenants’ needs and performance repairs data. The RSH concluded that the council needs to make fundamental changes to deliver improved outcomes for tenants—specifically under the Safety and Quality Standard, the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has issued regulatory judgements finding that Runnymede Borough Council, the City of London Corporation and Rugby Borough Council failed to meet consumer standards following inspections.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published its 2025 Global Accounts providing a financial overview of private registered providers of social housing for the year ending 31 March 2025. The report found that total spend on repairs and maintenance increased 13% to reach £10bn, of which £3.9bn was capitalised, while landlords spent £14.2bn on development and delivered 54,000 new social homes. Investment in existing homes is forecast to average £10.9bn per annum over the next five years, though these plans may be affected by the availability of grant funding for cladding replacement, the implementation of Awaab's Law and consultations on a new Decent Homes and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard. The sector agreed new facilities of £12.3bn and reported undrawn facilities of £30.6bn in March 2025. Operating margins showed marginal improvement for the second consecutive year to reach 17.3%, while the sector's underlying surplus increased from £1.6bn in 2024 to £1.9bn in 2025. The analysis covers 200 large private registered provider groups owning or managing at least 1,000 social homes, representing more than 96% of the sector's stock.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published its 2025 Sector Risk Profile, warning that social landlords must strengthen governance and risk management to remain resilient amid intensifying financial and operational pressures. The report highlights internal challenges, including record investment in improving existing homes to address hazards such as damp, mould and fire safety, alongside external risks such as rising debt costs, a weaker housing market and labour shortages. RSH emphasises that robust governance, informed by comprehensive data and stress testing, is essential for maintaining financial viability and delivering better outcomes for tenants. The regulator will continue using inspections and other regulatory tools to ensure landlords are well-run and capable of providing more and better social homes.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published its 2026 financial forecasts of private registered providers, showing record planned investment in repairs and increased development plans. To fund their plans, providers forecast that £54.7 billion of new borrowing will be required and £16.3 billion of additional grant is forecast over the first five years. RSH said the data indicates some anticipated stabilisation in the sector’s financial position, although providers continue to face significant financial pressures. The largest providers, with more than 40,000 homes, generally have a tighter financial position. The forecasts cover providers managing or owning 1,000 or more homes. Development plans have increased modestly over the first 5 years, with a more substantial increase over the 10-year term of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.