OCTOBER 2025: A summary of the latest UK Government policy changes and news.
1. Tenant Satisfaction Measures Pilot
Earlier this month, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published the findings from its pilot study involving small providers submitting Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs). Whilst almshouses were among the participating organisations, the results have broader implications for how the sector can approach resident feedback, performance monitoring, and reporting in smaller settings. The message is clear – small housing charities are fulfilling their role effectively, keeping residents at the centre of what they do.
What this means for members:
- The outcome confirms that small providers are not required to make formal TSM returns, therefore, most almshouse charities (unless they are Registered Providers and have over 1,000 units) do not need to submit TSM data to the Regulator.
- Note, however, that regardless of size, almshouse charities that are Registered Providers are required to continue to collect TSM data and ensure the data is accurate, transparent and usable to demonstrate performance to tenants (residents) and improve services.
For more information about the pilot – see our response here.
2. Housing Qualifications – Competence and Conduct Standard
The Government has directed the Regulator of Social Housing to produce a standard for registered providers.
The Government has directed that the standard must:
- apply to senior housing managers and executives and service providers
- have written policies setting out the model approach to learning and development, appraising staff, and managing poor performance etc.
- adopt or develop an appropriate code of conducts for those staff
- give tenants meaningful opportunities to influence and scrutinise the development of the policy, and decisions relating to the code of conduct, and ensure they are made accessible to tenants and kept up to date and fit for purpose
- secure that their Senior Housing Executives and Senior Housing Managers have, or are working towards, a specified qualification, or type of qualification, in housing management and take steps to secure that Relevant Managers of their services providers also gain a specified qualification.
The standard will come into force in October 2026, with a transition period before all relevant staff must have or be working towards an appropriate qualification. The transition period is 3 years for large registered providers and their services providers (1,000 homes or more) and 4 years for small registered providers and their services providers (under 1,000 homes).
Most importantly, it sets out the criteria for who the standard will apply to. Following extensive engagement on behalf of the charity housing sector, The Almshouse Association is pleased to confirm that it will now, not apply to unpaid volunteers (trustees).
For more information, please visit the Government website here.
3. New consultation – Continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Government is seeking views on the The Warm Home Discount Scheme – which has been a key policy in the government’s approach to tackling fuel poverty and reducing the energy costs of low-income and vulnerable households ever since its inception in 2011.
This consultation sets out the government’s proposals for the new scheme period and is gathering feedback from stakeholders on:
- the design of the core elements of the scheme
- options for the next scheme period in Scotland
- proposals to change the administration of the scheme
- a call for evidence on Industry Initiatives
- a call for suggestions for future improvements during the next scheme period
The Almshouse Association will submit a response on behalf of its members.
We would encourage members to also submit responses, or to get in touch with any comments or concerns to inform our response ahead of the deadline: 20 November 2025
posted 9 October 2025