Three housing associations have been awarded top consumer grades in the latest regulatory judgements published by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) on 27 May 2026. Sanctuary Housing Association, Railway Housing Association and Benefit Fund, and Regenda Limited all achieved a C1 consumer grade, reflecting improvements in service delivery and governance.

Upgrades Reflect Improved Service Standards

Sanctuary Housing Association received an upgrade to a C1 consumer grade after demonstrating effective, efficient, and timely repairs services. This upgrade accompanies unchanged governance and financial viability grades of G1 and V2 respectively. Sanctuary manages over 85,000 social homes across England from its Worcester headquarters, indicating a significant impact on tenants across the country.

Similarly, Railway Housing Association and Benefit Fund, based in Darlington, was upgraded to a C1 consumer grade while maintaining its governance grade of G1 and financial viability grade of V2. The association showed notable progress not only in repairs but also in delivering its Resident Engagement Strategy and improving the accuracy of tenant information, particularly regarding diverse tenant needs.

Regenda Limited also received a governance upgrade to G1 alongside its first consumer grade of C1, with its financial viability grade remaining stable at V2. Managing around 13,000 homes mainly in the North West, Regenda demonstrated effective governance arrangements and risk management, enabling it to meet its strategic and charitable objectives.

Concerns Raised Over Rugby Borough Council

While three housing associations saw positive gradings, the RSH highlighted serious failings at Rugby Borough Council (Rugby BC) concerning the Rent Standard. The council overcharged approximately 4,000 tenants and former tenants by around £415,000 due to errors in rent setting. Although the rents have now been corrected, Rugby BC’s consumer grade remains at C3, reflecting ongoing concerns.

RSH emphasises that engagement with Rugby BC continues to ensure improvements and appropriate redress for affected tenants. Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement, noted that the council is cooperating constructively and stressed the importance of clear evidence of meaningful improvement focused on risk management and tenant redress.

Regulator’s Perspective on Consumer Grading

Kate Dodsworth commented on the significance of the gradings, stating: “Our job is to hold landlords to account and drive continuous improvement to ensure tenants get good quality homes and effective services. Getting a top grading shows a landlord is meeting our minimum standards – and there’s always room to do better.”

She added, “It’s really encouraging when we see landlords listening, acting on our feedback and making the necessary changes to deliver better quality homes and a better service for their tenants.” This highlights the regulator’s commitment to continuous improvement and tenant-focused service delivery in the social housing sector.

What this means for landlords

The recent regulatory judgements underline the importance of maintaining high standards in repairs, governance, and tenant engagement. Landlords and housing associations should note that achieving a top consumer grade requires not only meeting minimum standards but also actively responding to tenant needs and regulatory feedback.

Furthermore, the case of Rugby Borough Council serves as a reminder of the consequences of non-compliance with rent standards, emphasising the need for accurate rent setting and transparent communication with tenants. Landlords must prioritise risk management and ensure swift corrective action where issues arise to maintain trust and regulatory compliance.

Regulatory Context and Standards

Since 1 April 2024, the RSH has implemented revised consumer standards designed to drive long-term improvements in social housing. These changes, stemming from the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, include stronger powers to hold landlords accountable and a programme of landlord inspections. The regulator’s approach focuses on ensuring landlords are well-governed, financially viable, and deliver value for money, with clear gradings for consumer, governance, and viability standards.

Source: Based on reporting from Regulator of Social Housing

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