The regulator of Social Housing has published its annual
assessment of the key risks and challenges facing the social
housing sector. The RSH's Sector Risk Profile shows that providers are
grappling with a range of significant external pressures, including
high inflation, higher borrowing costs, difficulties in accessing
skilled labour and a declining housing market which threatens to
dampen income from development sales. These headwinds continue to
weaken the sector's financial capacity and put pressure on
providers' business plans. Against this very challenging backdrop,
the sector is making record investment in existing homes to meet
quality and building safety commitments, as well as building
much-needed new homes. Providers are also working towards
longer-term net zero targets by improving the energy efficiency of
their homes.
Although the risk assessment is primarily focused on housing
associations, most of the key challenges identified in RSH's report
are also relevant to leading councillors and at local authorities
which own and manage homes.