Social landlords required to provide housing management information to tenants on request from April 2027

Social landlords will be required to provide tenants with information on request from next April, Matthew Pennycook has announced.

The housing minister, in a written statement to parliament this afternoon, confirmed it intends to direct the Regulator of Social Housing to introduce new Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs).

These will be introduced in two stages. From October 2026, providers will be required to proactively publish information about the management of their homes. From April 2027, they will be expected to provide tenants with access to information on request.

The requirements have yet to be set ou by RSH.

However a consultation paper published under the previous government proposed STAIRs would be enforced as part of the consumer standards.

These proposals suggested STAIRs cover ‘relevant information’ held by a landlord which “may include details of policies, plans and actions carried out in the management of social housing, and information captured and retained to support these activities.” Examples of information proposed include rent collection, rent rates, service charges, occupancy rights, repairs, improvements, complaints handling, staffing, training, data handling, customer service and stock profile.

The government said also today it would seek to extend Freedom of Information Act rights to tenants of Tenant Management Organisations in April 2027.

Pennycook also announced the government will launching a £1 million Resident Experience Innovation Fund to support social landlords, tenants and other relevant organisations together to test and scale up innovative projects that aim to deliver better outcomes for social tenants.