Which rules apply to us?
Answer five questions. Nothing is saved.
What the check looks at
The check asks five questions: whether you're a registered provider, how many homes you own, how your residents occupy their homes, whether you have paid housing staff, and when your financial year ends. Those answers decide which of the four sets of rules apply to you, and which dates matter.
The four sets of rules in brief
- Complaint Handling Code: two stages with fixed timescales, and a yearly self-assessment, report and Ombudsman submission.
- STAIRs: publish information about how you're run, and from 1 April 2027 answer tenants' information requests within 30 calendar days.
- Competence and Conduct Standard: a written policy, a code of conduct, and qualifications for paid senior housing staff.
- Awaab's Law: fixed timescales to investigate and fix hazards in homes let on a tenancy.
Questions
How do we know if we're a registered provider?
If you're registered with the Regulator of Social Housing, you are. The regulator publishes a list of registered providers, updated monthly. Housing associations, almshouse charities, co-operatives and community land trusts can all be registered providers.
Why does it ask how residents occupy their homes?
Awaab's Law applies to homes let on a tenancy. It doesn't apply to homes occupied under a licence, shared ownership homes or long leaseholders. STAIRs covers tenants, licensees and shared owners who own less than 100% of their home.
Why does it ask about paid staff?
The qualification requirements in the Competence and Conduct Standard apply to paid senior housing staff. Unpaid volunteers are exempt, but the written policy and code of conduct still apply.
How is our Housing Ombudsman submission date worked out?
Landlords with fewer than 1,000 homes submit 6 months after their financial year-end. Landlords with 1,000 homes or more submit by 30 September.