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Scottish regulator to focus annual risk report on homelessness and stock quality
The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has revealed its next annual risk assessment will focus on issues including homelessness and the quality of housing stock.
Other key areas the SHR will hone in on include tenant and resident safety, the development of new homes, and the financial health and governance of social landlords.
The regulator is also putting landlord performance in delivering services under the microscope, including how landlords that provide Gypsy/Traveller sites ensure minimum site standards and fire safety requirements.
According to the SHR, there are 28 Gypsy/Traveller sites in Scotland, but only 20 currently comply with both the Scottish government’s minimum standards and fire safety requirements.
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The regulator also noted that landlords face “significant economic challenges”, including rising energy costs, higher inflation, rising interest rates, recovery out of the pandemic and a looming recession.
“The Scottish government’s rent policy may mean that landlords have limited capacity to increase rents to mitigate inflationary pressures within the business and to help meet the cost of policy obligations,” it added.
The regulator said that, given the “level of volatility and uncertainty” facing the sector and its tenants, it will keep its current risk assessment approach under review.
“If new risks emerge or there is a change in the policy context, including possible restrictions on rent increases after the end of March 2023, we may need to consider the focus of our risk assessment,” it said.
John Jellema, assistant director at the SHR, said: “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 the cost of living, particularly in food and energy prices, which could see many facing real financial hardship.
“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.”
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.
