Private sector landlords renting homes to social tenants could find themselves ranked in a new league tables, according to Government proposals.

The Ministry for Housing has released a green paper seeking views on improving protections for social tenants and helping them on the property ladder.

One proposal is the creation of league tables which would rank local authority landlords as well as private registered providers, which can include private sector landlords, based on a number of key performance indicators.

The indicators include

–          Keeping properties in good repair.

–          Maintaining the safety of buildings.

–          Effective handling of complaints.

–          Respectful and helpful engagement with residents

–          Responsible neighbourhood management, including tackling anti-social behaviour.

The document proposes that the key performance indicators are published annually by the Regulator for Social Housing.

Among other proposals, the Government is seeking views on beefing up regulatory powers in social housing and reducing the time period between complaining to a landlord and the Housing Ombudsman from eight to four weeks, to speed up the process.

It also wants views on improving shared ownership schemes, recognising that the current 10% minimum staircasing payment required can be a deterrent. Instead, it highlights a trial scheme that has been operated by housing association Thames Valley Housing that lets shared owners pay increments of 1% each year for 15 years.

Commenting on the proposals, Tonia Secker, partner at law firm Trowers & Hamlins LLP said: “The green paper presents an important opportunity to shine a spotlight on the role of social housing today, who it supports, who provides it and how – whether a landlord is in the public or private sector, charitable or for profit – residents can be assured of safe and decent homes and be placed at the heart of decisions surrounding their homes.

“It rightly focuses on the relationships between residents and those who own and manage the homes they live in.  This is a difficult and complicated area.  Some ‘yardstick’ of quality is necessary, but whether a “league table” approach is useful is the right one remains to be seen – particularly in circumstances where an individual’s choice of landlord is constrained.

“The additional resource and infrastructure required to implement such a system risks both cutting across the role of the regulator and muddying the waters.  What is needed is more clarity and unification of function rather than less.”