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Scottish regulator provides details of how approach will change during coronavirus pandemic
The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has written to all social landlords in Scotland to provide more detail on how its approach to regulation will change in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter signed by Michael Cameron, chief executive of the SHR, confirmed that the annual regulatory returns, which open in April and May, will have deadlines extended to the end of July.
The regulator’s letter states: “If you are in a position to, you can provide this information to us. But please give us this information only if you have the capacity to do so.
“Do not let it divert you from your focus on delivering services in these very difficult circumstances.”
Mr Cameron also urged landlords to contact the SHR it if any “notifiable events” occur.
These include, but are not limited to, a landlord having to reduce its service levels as a result of the pandemic, or staff absences that mean safe levels of staffing cannot be maintained in supported accommodation.
Local authorities are asked to contact the regulator if they are unable to deliver a minimum service, including statutory homelessness and health and safety requirements.
According to the regulator, almost all landlords have been in contact over the past fortnight to explain how the pandemic is affecting key services.
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The SHR also provided an update on the Social Housing Resilience Group that was set up in Scotland last week, with members including the Scottish government, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland.
The letter explained that the SHR is finalising with the group a short monthly return to gather critical information from each landlord, to help understand the scale and nature of disruption and plan co-ordinated responses.
It was also confirmed that the charter and five-year financial projects have been extended until the end of July. This date will be kept under review and extended if necessary.
The SHR had previously announced that it would shift its focus to monitoring the impact of coronavirus on landlords and suspend the majority of regulatory engagements.
George Walker, chair of the SHR, said: “We want to support social landlords through the coronavirus crisis.
“To do that, we need a clear picture of the impact on social landlords and tenants. We want to understand trends, emerging issues and where landlords may need help.
“This monitoring framework will provide up to date information about the impact on landlords’ operations.
“Each month we will ask landlords for a small amount of information. We will use this to provide the Scottish government and the new Social Housing Resilience Group with regular reports to help in their co-ordination of the national response to the pandemic.
“As an organisation we are working fully remotely to deliver the shift in our regulatory focus. Our board continues to function as normal and to direct our activities.”
