The group of MPs that monitors the work of the Communities and Local Government department has launched an inquiry into the regulation of social housing in England.
The Communities and Local Government Committee will call Julian Ashby, the chair of the regulation committee of the Homes and Communities Agency, to appear before the inquiry, and is inviting written submissions from interested parties.
The inquiry will examine the work of the regulation committee since it replaced the previous social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority, in April 2012. It will also look at the risks facing the social housing sector, and whether the regulator has the resources it needs to effectively police social landlords.
In April the regulator published a discussion paper outlining how it might adapt its approach to regulation to take into account the increasingly commercial nature of the sector, and the select committee will also consider the potential impact of the proposed changes.
Bodies representing housing associations have raised concerns about the HCA’s plans. Last week the National Housing Federation warned setting limits on non-social housing activity could be unduly restrictive, and today the Placeshapers group of 100 social landlords has said tougher regulation could force its members to cut back on mixed tenure developments.