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Welsh association upgraded after regulatory intervention
A Welsh housing association censured by the regulator for health and safety failings last year has been upgraded.
Cardiff Community Housing Association (CCHA), which owns 2,840 homes, was deemed by the Welsh government’s housing regulation team to require intervention in March due to “significant” governance concerns.
CCHA had failed to record accurate data about repairs affecting tenants’ safety, with a large number of electrical safety inspections not done.
An ‘in-year review’ published by the regulator last week upgraded CCHA’s regulation status to ‘increased’ for governance and service delivery, indicating that a “risk or combination of risks are presenting a significant challenge to the [association] and increased regulatory oversight is required”.
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The accompanying report said the judgement has been revised because CCHA “has satisfactorily demonstrated the priority governance improvements which were required” and addressed the health and safety concerns.
However, it added that “increased regulatory oversight” is still needed to help the landlord to ensure effective board and executive management, assess risks and deliver value for money.
CCHA has undergone a board and executive team overhaul since the March regulatory judgement and formally requested that the regulator review its ‘intervention’ status at the start of December.
A report published by the regulator in the same month revealed that bosses in place at the time of the intervention had focused on denying there was a problem rather than resolving the issues.
“This positive in-year review is the result of great team work between our strengthened board, executive team and our dedicated staff,” said Duncan Forbes, chair of CCHA.
“I am confident we can demonstrate to the regulator later this year that we should be returned to standard in all aspects of their regulatory judgement.
“With a new chief executive and executive team joining the association in the coming weeks, we are in a good place to progress this next phase of improvements.”
CCHA’s regulatory grading for financial viability has remained ‘standard’, indicating it “meets viability requirements and has the financial capacity to deal with scenarios appropriately”.
