The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has published updated plans for three social landlords it is engaging with.
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The regulator has been engaging with Viewpoint, Falkirk Council and Clyde Valley Housing Association over concerns about various issues, including services for people suffering homelessness, governance and gas safety.
The plans describe why the SHR is engaging with each landlord, what they need to do and the information they must provide.
Viewpoint manages supported housing and care services for older people in Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife. It is currently engaging with the regulator to improve its governance and financial management as well as tenant and resident health and safety.
It emerged in March last year that an investigation by the housing association into allegations of fraud in 2020 “raised a number of serious weaknesses in relation to assurances provided to the board, contract management, the internal control framework including financial controls and the association’s budget and forecast processes”.
No evidence was found to support the fraud allegations.
After the investigation, Viewpoint informed the regulator in its annual assurance statement that there were areas of material non-compliance with the regulatory standards of governance and financial management.
A further review by the housing association found more areas of non-compliance, including assurances relating to value for money, compliance with procurement regulation, and adherence to the association’s procurement systems, processes and internal controls.
Viewpoint agreed to develop a comprehensive action plan to work through the required actions.
According to its updated engagement plan published in February, Viewpoint is “continuing to address the areas of material non-compliance”. It also informed the regulator that it had identified areas of non-compliance with its tenant and resident health and safety duties.
The regulator said: “Viewpoint identified weaknesses in its management of tenant and resident health and safety following concerns raised about fire safety at one of its developments.
“Viewpoint carried out an inspection which identified a number of issues.”
The housing association has developed a plan to address the findings of the inspection.
The SHR said Viewpoint is making good progress in addressing all the issues identified and is “working openly and constructively with us as it takes forward this work”.
Clyde Valley is one of the largest developers of new affordable housing in Scotland. Its engagement with the regulator came after the landlord identified weaknesses in its management of gas safety.
According to the SHR, the housing association is “committed to addressing the weaknesses as quickly as possible”, has developed an action plan and is making “good progress in carrying out its programme of improvements”.
Lynn Wassell, chief executive of Clyde Valley, said: “Customer safety is our key priority…
“As soon as we identified issues with our management of gas safety and data accuracy, we notified the Scottish Housing Regulator and quickly took action.
“We continue to work closely with the Scottish Housing Regulator and welcome their recognition that CVHA is making good progress in carrying out its programme of improvements.”
Finally, Falkirk Council is engaging with regulator over issues it found with its services for homeless people and about its stock quality.
According to the SHR, tenants and residents in a number of villages in the Falkirk area have “raised concerns” with the council about the affordability and adequacy of their heating systems.
“Falkirk has taken the decision to replace these heating systems and is currently procuring the necessary work,” the regulator said.
The council must now provide the regulator with a strategy and timeline for the installation of replacement heating systems from 31 March 2022, with bi-monthly updates on progress with the implementation of this work.
The SHR will meet with Falkirk Council to discuss its homelessness service and decide whether it requires any additional assurance.
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