Easy Housing Association, which provides supported housing for over 200 individuals across Birmingham, has received a final warning from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) following persistent and long-standing failures in governance, financial viability, and rent standards.
The RSH has published a regulatory judgement highlighting Easy Housing’s ongoing issues. The organisation, which operates not only in Birmingham but also in London, reportedly failed to comply with previous enforcement directions and resisted cooperation with new directors appointed to improve its governance.
Easy Housing operates within the often-criticised sector of supported exempt accommodation, offering homes to homeless people in properties leased from private landlords. Housing benefit claims made for each resident are then distributed among landlords and management firms responsible for tenant support.
READ MORE: Once-Troubled Midland Pub Reopens to Warm Local Embrace
Despite earlier regulatory interventions, Easy Housing has not shown adequate cooperation or progress. The appointed directors, who bring expertise in finance, governance, and tenant safety, faced opposition but will continue for three more months as the regulator considers deregistration to safeguard tenant interests.
The RSH’s findings indicate Easy Housing failed to demonstrate effective governance and probity arrangements, lacked appropriate skill and independence in managing its affairs, and did not manage resources or set rents appropriately to protect social housing.
Jonathan Walters, Chief Executive at the Regulator of Social Housing, emphasised the seriousness of the situation:
“Being a registered social landlord comes with responsibilities. We expect landlords to take prompt and effective action when we identify failings – but Easy has failed to address its issues or work constructively with us, despite us using our enforcement powers.
We are concerned Easy does not have a credible route to resolving these serious issues and, as a result, we are now considering compulsory de-registration.”
If Easy Housing fails to comply with the new orders within three months, it will be deregistered and consequently barred from operating within the social housing sector.
A register of social housing providers is maintained by the regulator to oversee standards and compliance.
Attempts to contact Easy Housing Association for comment have been made by BirminghamLive.