Michael Cameron

In the letter, chief executive Michael Cameron highlights revised guidance to support landlords when they are completing the Statements that was published in February last year. 

The guidance explains that SHR 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,” Mr Cameron writes. “This will provide us with specific assurance that landlords are continuing to comply with their obligations in this important area.”

In the Annual Assurance Statement, landlords will need to confirm whether they meet all duties in relation to tenant and resident safety, and in particular that they have obtained appropriate assurance about compliance with all relevant safety requirements including:

• Gas safety
• Electrical safety
• Water safety
• Fire safety
• Asbestos
• Damp and Mould
• Lift safety.

Mr Cameron added: “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, SHR carried out a programme of visits to landlords to discuss their Annual Assurance Statements. During the visits, it 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.

The resulting report on the findings can be found here.