The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has announced it is considering removing Easy Housing Association from the register of social housing providers. This decision comes after the regulator published a regulatory judgement on Monday, citing Easy's persistent failure to meet the Governance and Financial Viability Standard and the Rent Standard. The RSH has been working with Easy since 2023 to address these issues, but the association has failed to adequately cooperate with regulatory efforts.
Easy Housing Association, a small provider operating in Birmingham and London, has been under scrutiny for its governance and financial management. The RSH has taken enforcement actions since July 2025, including appointing three individuals to Easy's board to strengthen governance. However, Easy has not fully complied with the terms of the enforcement notice and requirement to appoint a manager. In a statement, Jonathan Walters, Chief Executive at the RSH, expressed concern over Easy's ability to resolve its serious issues.
As a registered social landlord, Easy has a statutory duty to manage itself effectively and meet the standards set by the RSH. The regulator has the power to remove a provider from the register if it fails to meet these standards, and has given Easy notice of this potential action. Easy can make representations to the RSH, which will carefully consider these before making a final decision.
The implications of deregistration for Easy's tenants and stakeholders are significant. If deregistered, Easy would no longer be able to rent out social housing, potentially leaving tenants without a home. The RSH's decision may also have wider implications for the social housing sector, highlighting concerns over governance and financial management among smaller providers.
The RSH will now consider representations from Easy before making a final decision. This process is expected to take some time, but the outcome will have significant consequences for the association and its stakeholders.