§ 01 — About the Regulator
Who is the Regulator of Social Housing?
The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It sets mandatory standards that all registered social housing providers in England must meet.
The regulatory framework was significantly strengthened by the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, which introduced mandatory inspections of all large landlords and brought local authority landlords under the same consumer standards as housing associations for the first time.
"RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. We hold registered providers to account so that current and future tenants have safe, quality homes."
§ 02 — The Assessment Process
How Providers Are Assessed
RSH uses a combination of planned inspections, annual stability checks and responsive engagement to assess each landlord. Every assessment results in a published regulatory judgement.
1
Programmed Inspection
RSH inspects every large landlord (1,000+ homes) on a four-year cycle. Inspectors review documents, interview officers, board members and tenants, and assess evidence against all consumer standards before issuing a grade.
2
Annual Stability Check
Between inspections, RSH conducts yearly stability checks on all housing associations with 1,000+ homes, reviewing financial data, governance submissions and operational performance to check for emerging risks.
3
Responsive Engagement
If a landlord self-refers a material issue, RSH receives a complaint, or data flags a concern — RSH can engage outside the regular cycle. This can result in a grade change without a full inspection.
4
Regulatory Judgement Published
Following every assessment, RSH publishes its judgement on GOV.UK — including findings, reasons for grades, and what the provider must do to improve. All judgements are publicly accessible.
The four consumer standards inspected:
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Safety & Quality Standard
Fire, electrical & water safety; damp & mould; Decent Homes Standard compliance; timely repairs and maintenance.
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Transparency, Influence & Accountability Standard
Treating tenants fairly; meaningful scrutiny opportunities; effective complaints handling; open communication.
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Neighbourhood & Community Standard
Working with councils, police and partners to tackle anti-social behaviour and hate incidents.
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Tenancy Standard
Offering tenancies appropriate to household needs and compatible with the accommodation's purpose.
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Local authority landlords are regulated against the Consumer and Rent Standards only. The Governance and Financial Viability Standard does not apply to councils — this is why LA profiles in this portal show no G or V grades.
§ 03 — Grading System
Understanding the Grade Categories
RSH issues grades across three dimensions: Consumer (C), Governance (G) and Viability (V). Each runs 1–4, with 1 being the strongest. Grades are published on GOV.UK and updated after every assessment.
The Consumer grade is the most visible and impactful measure for tenants. It reflects how well a landlord delivers safe, quality homes and treats residents fairly.
Consumer Grade · C1 → C4
Meeting Standards
The landlord is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards. It identifies issues when they occur and puts things right. Tenants receive the service they are entitled to.
RSH expectation: Continue to review and improve services. C1 is not a licence to stand still.
Improvement Needed
There are some weaknesses in delivering the consumer standards. These are material and, if left unaddressed, are likely to mean the landlord does not meet the standards.
RSH expectation: Develop and share an improvement plan with tenants. Demonstrate weaknesses have been addressed.
Serious Failings
There are serious failings in delivering the consumer standards. Current arrangements are not strong enough to put things right. Tenants are at risk of, or are experiencing, harm.
RSH expectation: Develop a significant-change plan shared with tenants. RSH will engage intensively and require ongoing evidence of improvement.
Very Serious Failings — Fundamental Change Required
Failings are so serious that the landlord must make fundamental changes. It has failed to meet the standards and tenants are experiencing significant harm.
RSH expectation: Intensive engagement. Enforcement action including statutory notices, special measures or management transfer may follow.
Governance Grade · G1 → G4 (Private Registered Providers only)
Measures whether the board and executive manage risks effectively and demonstrate strong leadership to deliver the landlord's objectives.
Meets Governance Requirements
Governance arrangements work effectively to identify and manage financial and non-financial risks. The landlord demonstrates strong leadership.
RSH expectation: Continue to review and strengthen governance. RSH expects all landlords to aim for G1.
Meets Requirements — Improvement Needed
Overall meets governance requirements but has weaknesses significant to the delivery of standards outcomes. These must be addressed before they become more serious.
RSH expectation: Identify root causes and put in place a comprehensive, timely improvement plan.
Does Not Meet Requirements
The landlord does not meet RSH's governance requirements. There are issues of serious regulatory concern. The landlord is at risk of being unable to deliver its objectives.
RSH expectation: Active engagement with RSH. A formal improvement plan must be in place with regular evidence of progress.
Does Not Meet Requirements — Regulatory Intervention
Serious governance failures. RSH is actively intervening and may take enforcement action due to the severity of the failures.
RSH expectation: Subject to active regulatory intervention. Enforcement including statutory notices or management transfer.
Viability Grade · V1 → V4 (Private Registered Providers only)
Measures financial strength — whether the landlord can meet its financial obligations now and in the future.
Meets Viability Requirements — Strong Position
Meets viability requirements with financial capacity to deal with a wide range of adverse scenarios. Strong financial health across all key metrics.
RSH expectation: Continue prudent financial management. Maintain strong evidence base for financial plans.
Meets Requirements — Manage Material Risks
Meets viability requirements and can deal with a reasonable range of adverse scenarios, but needs to manage material risks to ensure continued compliance.
RSH expectation: Active monitoring of financial risks. May be regraded at next review depending on progress.
Does Not Meet Viability Requirements
Does not meet viability requirements. Serious regulatory concern around whether long-term viability risks are being appropriately managed.
RSH expectation: Intensive financial engagement with RSH. Immediate remediation plan required.
Serious Financial Difficulty — Regulatory Intervention
Most likely in serious financial difficulty. RSH is working with the landlord and others to remedy the situation using regulatory powers.
RSH expectation: Active regulatory intervention. RSH may appoint managers or use statutory powers to stabilise the organisation.
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For-profit providers: where grades are shown with an asterisk (e.g. C1*, G2*) this indicates a for-profit registered provider. The regulatory framework applies in the same way.
§ 04 — Consequences of Low Grades
What Happens When a Provider Receives a Low Grade?
The consequences of a low grade are graduated and proportionate. RSH first seeks improvement through engagement, escalating to enforcement only where necessary.
C2 / G2 / V2 — Improvement Required
RSH publishes judgement publicly · Landlord must develop a formal improvement plan · Plan must be shared with tenants · Progress reviewed at next assessment
C3 / G3 / V3 — Intensive Engagement
RSH initiates intensive regulatory engagement · Frequent reporting and evidence requirements · Landlord may be placed under heightened scrutiny · Inspectors may revisit
C4 / G4 / V4 — Regulatory Intervention
RSH may issue a Statutory Notice · RSH can appoint an Additional Appointee (surveyor/manager) · Management transfer possible · Enforcement action on GOV.UK
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Self-Referral Obligation: landlords have an active obligation to self-refer to RSH when they identify a material issue. Failure to self-refer when required is itself a regulatory concern and may result in a lower grade.