The main areas the Regulator will focus on in its engagement with social landlords are the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, homelessness, rent affordability, and tenant and resident safety. It will also continue to focus on financial health and good governance of RSLs.

This year, for the first time, the Regulator has also published a regulatory status for RSLs. The regulatory status describes whether, in the Regulator’s judgement a landlord complies with Regulatory Standards.

The Regulator’s risk assessment outcomes report shows that 140 RSLs are compliant (with two under review), seven RSLs are working towards compliance, and the regulator will continue its statutory intervention in two RSLs, Thistle and Fairfield.

Ian Brennan, director of regulation, said: “This year’s risk assessment took place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 global pandemic. We know social landlords have worked hard over the past year to adapt to the challenges this brought about.

“In March last year, we adjusted our regulatory approach to focus on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The risks we have focused on in this year’s risk assessment reflect this.

“This year, in our engagement with social landlords, we will continue to have a strong focus on the pandemic, homelessness, rent affordability, tenant and resident safety, and financial health and good governance in RSLs.

“Over the coming year, we will continue to work with tenants, landlords, The Social Housing Resilience Group, Scottish Government and all of our stakeholders to continue to tackle the challenges ahead.”