Regulation Update

Interim Judgement Programme

During the pandemic, as well as pausing routine regulatory oversight and publication of judgements, WG also paused work on development of a new assessment model, the programmed Framework review and the research on closer alignment of oversight arrangements for tenant services in local authorities and RSLs. The pause has given WG the opportunity to reorder this work into a more logical sequence and now, finalising the new assessment model will be the last part of the workflow, not the first, so that it responds to the other workflows more effectively. WG’s aim is to roll out the new assessment model in early 2021 and they have therefore taken the decision to continue with the temporary regulation model until implementation. However, that would potentially mean a period of around 12 months without regulatory judgements and so WG have introduced, from November, an Interim Judgement Programme to remain in place for the transition period.

The interim judgement proposals have been subject to conversations and consultation through various stakeholder groups including RAG/RBW and considered in more detail by a group of sector/stakeholder representatives. The review process is designed to be light touch and not onerous with very limited requirements for information WG do not already collect/hold. Continuing with the temporary model means the imperative remains on proactive co-regulation/self-reporting, particularly in respect of Health and Safety, financial resilience and viability and business continuity. The regulation team now emphasise the need to tell them about material governance and tenant involvement issues, which many RSLs have been doing.

A detailed   guide to the Interim Judgement process is also available on the Welsh Government website.

https://gov.wales/temporary-changes-regulation-registered-social-landlords-guidance#section-55930