Regulation

On 1 April 2012 the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) was abolished and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) took over as the regulator of social housing.

The HCA will discharge this function through a specially-appointed Regulation Committee.

New Regulatory Framework

A new Regulatory Framework came into effect on 1 April 2012. It includes a number of important changes:

• It takes account of the abolition of the TSA and the new regulatory role of the HCA.
• It incorporates the changes made in 2011 to allow for the new investment framework, especially the introduction of affordable rents.
• It provides for fixed-term tenancies to be available for new tenancies.
• It takes account of the new test of 'serious detriment' that the regulator must consider before using its enforcement powers in relation to a consumer standard
• It acknowledges that this implies that the regulator will no longer be routinely engaged in matters of service delivery.
• It incorporates the revised directions by the Secretary of State.

The main Framework document incorporates the seven regulatory standards, together with information about the HCA’s general regulatory approach.

• Read the Federation's briefing on the new Framework