Jonathan Walters, the new chief executive of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), has emphasised the vital role of regulation in increasing the supply of social housing. Speaking at the Social Housing Finance Conference on 14 May 2026, Walters highlighted the urgent need for more and better homes amid rising demand and outlined the importance of innovation and sound governance within the sector.

Urgent need for more social homes

With over one million people currently on waiting lists for social housing, Walters described the situation as “never more urgent.” He stressed that landlords must not only maintain existing homes to a high standard but also actively contribute to building new social housing. This dual responsibility is critical to addressing the growing demand and improving living conditions for tenants.

Innovation and sustainable delivery models

Walters called on landlords to embrace innovation and develop new models of delivery that ensure a “long-term and sustainable commitment to social housing.” This approach recognises that traditional methods alone may not be sufficient to meet the scale of need. By adopting fresh strategies, landlords can better respond to evolving challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Importance of strong governance and risk management

To capitalise on increased government grant funding, Walters urged landlords to ensure their organisations are well run and to carefully consider risks that might affect their development plans. Effective governance and financial viability are essential to maintaining lender confidence and protecting public investment, which in turn supports the delivery of new homes.

Regulation as a catalyst for growth

Central to Walters’ message was the assertion that regulation plays a fundamental role in unlocking new housing supply. He indicated that the RSH intends to support the sector’s ambitions by evolving its economic regulation framework. “We want to support the sector to build more, and we will start a discussion this summer about how we can move our economic regulation forward to best support this exciting agenda,” Walters said.

What this means for landlords

For landlords and housing providers, Walters’ remarks underline the increasing expectations around both expanding housing stock and maintaining quality standards. The emphasis on innovation and risk management suggests that landlords will need to be proactive in adapting their business models and governance structures. The forthcoming consultation on economic regulation may also bring changes that landlords should prepare for, ensuring compliance and maximising opportunities for development funding.

Background on Jonathan Walters and the RSH

Jonathan Walters took up his role as chief executive of the Regulator of Social Housing on 1 May 2026. The RSH is responsible for promoting a viable, efficient, and well-governed social housing sector that delivers and maintains homes of appropriate quality. It achieves this through robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability, and value for money, alongside setting consumer standards to protect tenants.

Source: Based on reporting from Regulator of Social Housing

TLA Training Academy

The Landlord Association has launched its new Training Academy for UK landlords, providing structured guidance, compliance education, and practical knowledge to support landlords at every stage. Members can now complete the programme and become TLA Certified Landlords at no additional cost as part of their membership.

Landlords can explore the Academy here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/tla-academy/

Those looking to join and access the full training and certification can register here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/landlord-association-membership-uk/

TLA update

The Landlord Association is currently onboarding new service providers into its Trusted Partner Hub, a new initiative designed to support landlords, tenants, letting agents, and property managers with vetted, high-quality services. As one of the fastest growing landlord associations in the UK, TLA offers partners direct access to an engaged and active member base at the point of need. Service providers across legal, maintenance, insurance, finance, mortgages, tenant screening, and property services can register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/