The Regulator for Social Housing (RSH) has issued its response
to consultation on the new Rent Standard to apply to local
authorities from April 2020.
The RSH launched a 12-week consultation on 7 May 2019 on a revised Rent
Standard that will come into effect from 1 April 2020.
The consultation was as a result of the Secretary of State for
Housing, Communities and Local Government's direction to the RSH,
which was published in February 2019, following the Government's
consultation on its proposed new social rent policy in autumn
2018.
There were 127 responses to the consultation, with the sector
giving a very positive response to the proposals. Key points from
the consultation were:
- Most respondents (92.7%) felt that RSH had accurately reflected
the requirements of the direction in its proposed Rent
Standard.
- The majority (81.3%) also said the information in conjunction
with the policy statement gave providers an appropriate level of
clarity about the rules on rent with which they would be required
to comply.
- Issues identified around drafting of the Rent Standard have led
to changes to its layout.
As a result of the consultation, the new Rent Standard has been
finalised and will come into force on 1 April 2020.
Fiona MacGregor, Chief Executive of RSH, said:
"Having consulted with a wide range of stakeholders and
taken into account their feedback, we are confident that our new
Rent Standard, which will come into effect from April 2020,
reflects the Government's Direction, which it had previously
consulted on. It updates our role with regards to monitoring local
authority registered provider rents."
The full
Decision Statement and response to the consultation is available on
the RSH website.
ARCH member councils will be required to collect and submit data
to the RSH to demonstrate compliance with the new Rent Standard