2025 was a year of great change for social housing landlords and it does not seem like things will settle down any time soon. 2026 is set to bring in further parts of Awaab’s Law as well as the Renter’s Rights Act, both of which will need major considerations to stay compliant.
If that was not enough to juggle, there is a new consultation currently underway that could lead to further updates to compliance that will need to be managed. It is important to understand what is being discussed and how it may impact social housing landlords in the future.
What is the consultation focusing on?
Lasting 12 weeks, the consultation aims to codify revisions to the Transparency, Influence and Accountability standard (TI&A standard), Consumer Standards Code of Practice and the Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs).
The consultation is being handled by the Regulator of Social Housing and follows on from a consultation by The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on Competence and Conduct and Social Tenant Access to Information (STAIRs).
There is an aim to bring together the findings of the previous consultation with the new standard to ensure that it remains fit for purpose going forward.
What will the consultation mean?
Given the volume of initialisms and acronyms floating around the consultations, it can be challenging to keep track of what is actually being discussed.
In short, there is an attempt to drive higher professionalism and standards in social housing by requiring that staff involved in social housing are equipped with the right knowledge and qualifications.
For senior housing managers, it is expected that they will be required to hold or be working towards a housing management qualification, while other staff will need the correct knowledge and experience to deliver a high standard of service.
Alongside better education and training, the consultation is also looking into implementing better recordkeeping practices that will allow for more transparency with information. This is likely to increase the administrative tasks placed upon social housing landlords and could see additional compliance risks if they fail to keep pace.
We will get a greater understanding of how the consultation will impact requirements for social housing landlords once it concludes on 3 March 2026.
How should social housing landlords respond to this consultation?
The consultation is a signal that more change is coming. We are on hand to help social housing landlords understand any new obligations that are placed upon them so that they can stay fully compliant.
If the consultation does result in new guidance or legislation, we will be covering it in detail, so be sure to keep an eye out for our breakdown.
In the meantime, you can read the full consultation and respond with your feedback. This can be an important way of staying in the conversation and highlighting the ways that legislative changes impact the way you manage your property.
Feedback can be given anytime before the end of the consultation, but it would be wise to lodge any opinions sooner rather than later. If you have any questions or concerns about anything raised in the consultation, our expert team can help you understand how it may impact you.
As always, our team are here to help you manage your duties as a social housing landlord, now and in the future.
To keep pace with the changing responsibilities of a social housing landlord, speak to our team today.
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The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at December 2025.