Social housing regulatory assessments and inspections explained.
The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 gave the Regulator of Social Housing new powers to inspect landlords proactively against the consumer standards. Inspections started in April 2024.
Large landlords on a cycle. Everyone else when there’s a concern.
Landlords with more than 1,000 homes are inspected at least once every four years. The regulator can inspect any landlord, of any size, if it has concerns.
Notice
The landlord is told an inspection is coming and asked for data and documents.
Document review
Inspectors review policies, performance data, board papers and the landlord’s own assurance.
Meetings and interviews
Inspectors speak to board members, senior staff, frontline teams and tenants.
Reality checks
Visits and case reviews test whether what’s on paper happens in practice.
Judgement
The regulator publishes a regulatory judgement with one consumer grade, C1 to C4.
One grade for all four standards.
Delivering the outcomes
The landlord is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards.
Some weaknesses
Some weaknesses in delivering the outcomes, and improvement is needed.
Serious failings
Serious failings, and the landlord needs to make significant improvements.
Very serious failings
Very serious failings, and the landlord must make fundamental changes.
22 measures that tell the regulator where to look.
Every landlord collects and publishes Tenant Satisfaction Measures each year. Twelve come from tenant surveys, such as satisfaction with repairs or with complaint handling. Ten come from management data, such as gas safety checks and complaints per 1,000 homes.
The regulator uses them, along with complaints, referrals and data returns, to decide where risk sits. Weak TSMs on their own won’t mean a poor grade, but they will draw attention.
What the regulator can do.
Regulatory notices
Published notices where a landlord has breached a standard, often after a self-referral.
Enforcement
Performance improvement plans, enforcement notices and, since the 2023 Act, unlimited fines.
Emergency action
Powers to require repairs, appoint managers or intervene where tenants are at serious risk.
Regulatory assessments: common questions
What is a social housing regulatory assessment?
It's a check of how well a landlord meets the regulator's standards. The Regulator of Social Housing runs inspections, and landlords run their own assessments, or ask a consultant to, so they find gaps first.
What happens during an RSH inspection?
The landlord gets notice and a data request. Inspectors review documents, interview the board, staff and tenants, and run reality checks before publishing a regulatory judgement with one consumer grade.
What happens after a C3 or C4 grade?
The regulator usually agrees an improvement plan with the landlord and monitors it closely. It can also use enforcement powers, which since the 2023 Act include unlimited fines.
Be ready long before the notice arrives.
See how Be Assured keeps your evidence inspection-ready all year.