Two HAs downgraded

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) downgraded the governance rating of 5,000-home Shepherds Bush Housing Association from a ‘G1’ to ‘G2’ – meaning it is compliant with governance standards but needs to improve.

In its judgement, the regulator told Shepherds Bush to improve the assessment and training of board members and noted shortcomings in its stress-testing strategy.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), which owns around 14,000 homes, was also downgraded to a ‘G2’ rating due to a number of out-of-date gas safety certificates.

The HCA concluded that even though responsibility for gas safety certificates fell with a separate managing agent, the landlord should have had better oversight.