Chair of under-fire supported housing provider insists it is making “considerable progress” despite regulatory enforcement action

The chair of a non-compliant supported housing provider slammed by the regulator for failing to improve in more than two years has insisted it is making ‘considerable progress’.

Easy Housing Association, which provides supported housing in Birmingham through leases, is the subject of enforcement action by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).

The regulator last week announced it is using its enforcement powers to require EHA to appoint a manager and commission an independent review to ensure an action plan is delivered after breaching the governance and financial viability standard.

RSH, which has also made three statutory appointments to the board of EHA, said the provider has been “unwilling or unable” to improve since its regulatory notice in March 2023.

In a statement Mohamed Ibrahim, chair of ESA, said: “The board of EHA has been working with the regulator to address their concerns. While we have achieved considerable progress in tackling some of the challenges, we acknowledge that EHA still has considerable work ahead to fully satisfy the regulator’s requirements.

“I wish to assure all our stakeholders of our unwavering commitment to embracing change and continuing to implement the necessary reforms to ensure compliance with our obligations as a registered social landlord.”

The three statutory appointees to EHA’s board are Nicole Seymour, executive director, corporate services at Sanctuary Group, Sayeed Haris, executive director of property services at Midland Heart and Waseem Butt, director of building safety at Midland Heart.

Ibrahim said: “We look forward to working with all three of our new Board members and leveraging their experience and expertise to advance EHA’s objectives.

“In the coming weeks and months, I will be working closely with our new board to appoint a manager responsible for overseeing compliance with the enforcement action notice, ensuring that EHA fulfils all its obligations.”

The regulatory notice in March 2023 said EHA “has not been able to demonstrate that it has managed its affairs with an appropriate degree of skill, independence, diligence, effectiveness, prudence and foresight.”

>>See also: Regulator downgrades Birmingham provider and puts Phoenix under review

>>See also: Time for a change of mindset from social landlords on “no access” to properties

It said it has failed to ensure that it has an appropriate, robust and prudent business planning, risk and control framework. It also said governance weaknesses meant the landlord could not provide assurance that it complies with the home standard and the rent standard.

EHA has a head office in London but enters short-term leases in Birmingham and uses the properties for supported exempt accommodation.

The regulator said that EHA’s “governance arrangements are underdeveloped and inadequate for the size of the organisation”. The 2023 notice said it managed 213 properties.