Four draft consumer standards set out the specific expectations and outcomes that all registered providers will be expected to achieve. The government anticipates that the final set of standards will apply from April 2024:

• The Safety and Quality Standard
• The Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard
• The Neighbourhood and Community Standard
• The Tenancy Standard.

The draft standards have been designed to reflect the UK Government’s statutory objectives and powers set out in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 most recently amended by the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (the 2023 Act), and to meet expectations in the Social Housing White Paper (The charter for social housing residents) for our strengthened consumer regulation role.

The 2023 Act amends the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 to give the government the power to issue a Code of Practice in relation to the consumer standards. As part of this consultation, the government is seeking views on a draft Code of Practice to amplify the proposed standards and assist registered providers in understanding how they might achieve compliance.

The government has also published a regulatory impact assessment and equality impact assessment and welcome views on their conclusions as part of the consultation.

The consultation closes at 6pm on 17th October 2023. It can be accessed here.