Looking into the future, things are changing and we as social housing providers have to meet new requirements. Below are a couple of the things changing in 2026/2027.
Competence and Conduct
From October 2026, all social housing landlords must meet a new Competence and Conduct Standard. The standard was introduced by the Regulator of Social Housing to help make sure housing staff have the right skills, knowledge and behaviours to deliver high-quality services and treat residents with professionalism, respect and fairness.
How does this affect residents?
For residents, the standard should lead to a better service experience. It aims to ensure staff are properly trained, listen to residents’ concerns, deal with issues effectively, and are accountable for the services they provide. Housing providers must also have a clear code of conduct, which can be found on our website.
What are we doing?
We are reviewing our policies, investing in ongoing staff training, and working with residents to help shape our code of conduct. These changes will support our commitment to delivering safe, high-quality services and putting residents at the heart of what we do.
Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs)
From October 2026, the Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) will require us to make more information about our services, performance, policies and decision-making available to residents. The aim is to increase transparency, accountability and trust between landlords and residents. See our website for more information on where we publish this information.
What does this mean for residents?
Residents will have easier access to information about how their homes and services are managed, helping them better understand decisions, monitor performance and hold landlords to account. The new requirements are designed to strengthen resident influence and ensure we are more open about the services we deliver.
Awaab’s Law
The next phase of Awaab’s Law will extend the requirements beyond damp and mould to include additional housing hazards covered by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), such as excess cold, excess heat, structural hazards and falls. The aim is to ensure that we identify and respond to serious health and safety risks within clear timescales, helping residents to live in safe, healthy homes.
What does this mean for residents?
While the new requirements are being introduced in phases across the sector, Cornerstone already works to identify, assess and manage all HHSRS hazards within our homes. This means we take a proactive approach to resident safety and are not waiting for individual phases of the legislation before acting on potential risks.
