The main areas the Regulator will focus on are homelessness, landlord performance in delivering services, quality of homes, tenant and resident safety, the development of new homes, financial health in RSLs, and governance in RSLs.

The Regulator’s annual risk assessment sets out the engagement it will have with social landlords and is the main way it delivers its statutory objective to safeguard and promote the interests of tenants and service users.

John Jellema, assistant director of regulation, said: “Landlords and tenants are facing significant economic challenges.

“Landlords are dealing with increasing interest rates, high inflation in their costs including energy prices and obligations around net-zero and rent affordability. The Scottish Government will announce its rent policy by mid-January.

“Tenants are also facing significant challenges from the rise in cost of living, particularly in food and energy prices which could see many facing real financial hardship.”

He added: “In our risk assessment this year, we will take these challenges into account. And, we will continue to respond to the changing landscape and challenges landlords and their tenants face.

“We work closely with social landlords, tenants, the Scottish Government and all of our stakeholders in tackling the significant challenges ahead.”

The Regulator will publish the outcome of its risk assessment along with an engagement plan for each social landlord by the end of March 2023.