RSH has today (18 September) published the outcome of its small social housing provider data submission pilot.
RSH carried out the voluntary pilot with a range of small social housing providers, including local authorities, almshouses, for-profit providers, supported housing specialists and other private registered providers.
The pilot helped RSH understand small providers’ experience of collecting TSMs so far, and to assess the potential benefits and challenges of them submitting TSM data to RSH.
Feedback from the pilot, along with RSH’s own experience of regulating small providers, demonstrates the importance of them collecting TSMs. The data gives providers and tenants insight on service performance across a range of areas, which can be used to drive service improvements.
Using further insights from the pilot, RSH has also concluded that it will continue with its existing approach of not requiring small providers to submit TSM data. Results from small providers cannot often be compared directly with each other in a meaningful way, and requiring a TSM data submission could create an additional burden for small providers. The report sets out more information about RSH’s approach.
Small providers, like all social landlords, are still required to collect TSMs and publish the results.
Will Perry, Director of Strategy at RSH, said
We are grateful to all the providers who took part in our data submission pilot. We really value the additional insight they gave us, which demonstrates the value of small provider TSMs, and confirmed our existing approach to data submission.
All social landlords, including small providers, must continue to use their TSM results to drive service improvements for the benefit of tenants.
A social landlord is classed as ‘small’ by RSH if they have fewer than 1,000 homes.
Large landlords (with 1,000 homes or more) need to submit their TSM data to RSH every year. RSH will publish its analysis of large landlords’ second-year TSM results later in the autumn.
Notes to editors
- RSH introduced the TSMs in April 2023. They are a set of performance measures that all social landlords are required to collect and publish. They cover keeping properties in good repair, maintaining building safety, effective handling of complaints, respectful and helpful engagement and responsible neighbourhood management. More information can be found on RSH’s website.
- 98 small providers submitted TSM data as part in the voluntary pilot scheme. RSH started the process with a call for volunteers in July 2023 and more background information can be found on RSH’s website.
- Small provider results are harder to compare because small sample sizes make it harder for them to achieve standard levels of statistical accuracy, and because they use a wider range of different collection methods compared to large landlords. More information is provided in the report.
- RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.
