Committee questions Housing Ombudsman and Regulator of Social Housing
14 April 2022
On Tuesday from 4pm, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee will hold the latest oral evidence session for its inquiry into the regulation of social housing in England.
The LUHC Committee will question Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman and Jonathan Walters, Deputy Chief Executive of the Regulator of Social Housing.
Social housing is housing let at below-market rates by housing associations, local authorities and other providers.
Purpose of the session
Questions are likely to focus on how the Ombudsman handles complaints, on its new powers, including the ability to investigate possible systemic failures, and on the relationship between the Housing Ombudsman and the Regulator of Social Housing. The session is also likely to cover the Government’s plans to reform the current consumer regulatory regime, including by scrapping the ‘serious detriment’ test and introducing of a system of regular inspections.
The LUHC’s inquiry is examining concerns about the quality of social housing, with a focus on the ability of the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman to identify and address problems. The inquiry is also focussing on the proposals in the Government’s social housing White Paper aimed at improving the regulatory regime.
The inquiry terms of reference are available here. Written evidence submissions have been published for this inquiry and are available here.
Witnesses
Tuesday 19 April
At 4pm
- Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman
- Jonathan Walters, Deputy Chief Executive of the Regulator of Social Housing
Evidence sessions so far for this inquiry
On Monday 14th March, the LUHC Committee heard from Daniel Hewitt, Political Correspondent, ITV News, whose reporting has highlighted a series of concerns regarding poor social housing conditions, and from tenants Angela Price and Nicole Walters, who spoke about their experiences in social housing.
On Wednesday 9th March, the LUHC Committee questioned witnesses representing tenants, finance sectors, and housing organisations. On Monday 7th February, the LUHC Committee held an evidence session with witnesses representing local authority and housing organisations. On Monday 17th January, the LUHC Committee held the first evidence hearing for this inquiry, hearing from witnesses representing tenant groups and private registered providers of social housing.
Further information
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