The Homes and Communities Agency has announced the names of seven new assistant directors appointed to beef up regulation of the housing sector.

Inside Housing revealed in May that the regulator is restructuring to enable it to better deal with commercial or complex providers, while spending less time on routine engagement.

The regulator has now appointed five new assistant directors for regulatory operations, who will each monitor the viability and governance of a portfolio of 50 landlords.

Karen Doran will join the HCA from her role as director of housing services at the Chartered Institute of Housing, while David Taylor-Smith, former deputy director of finance at Wirral Council, will also be hired. The HCA is also appointing three internal members of staff, Kelsey Walker, Roger de la Mare and Maxine Loftus.

Will Perry, director of strategy at Housemark, will become assistant director of regulatory strategy and performance while Harold Brown has been recruited from within the HCA to become assistant director of 
investigation and enforcement