Decision

Broadland Housing Association Limited (L0026) - Regulatory Judgement: 30 April 2025

Updated 30 April 2025

Applies to England

Our Judgement

	Grade/Judgement	Change	Date of assessment
Consumer	C2 Our judgement is that there are some weaknesses in the landlord delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards and improvement is needed.	First grading	April 2025
Governance	G1 Our judgement is that the landlord meets our governance requirements	Assessed and unchanged	April 2025
Viability	V2 Our judgement is that the landlord meets our viability requirements. It has the financial capacity to deal with a reasonable range of adverse scenarios but needs to manage material risks to ensure continued compliance.	Assessed and unchanged	April 2025

Reason for publication

We are publishing a regulatory judgement for Broadland Housing Association Limited (Broadland) following an inspection completed in April 2025.  

This regulatory judgement confirms a consumer grading of C2, a governance grading of G1 and a financial viability grading of V2. 

Prior to this regulatory judgement, the governance and financial viability grades for Broadland were last updated in November 2023 following a stability check, to confirm grades of G1 and V2. This is the first time we have issued a consumer grade in relation to this landlord. 

Summary of the decision

From the evidence and assurance gained during the inspection, it is our judgement that there are some weaknesses in how Broadland is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards and improvement is needed, specifically in relation to outcomes in the Safety and Quality Standard and Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard. Based on this assessment, we have concluded a C2 grade for Broadland. 

Our judgement is that Broadland meets our governance requirements. Broadland has provided evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of its governance arrangements and that it continues to effectively manage the risks of its activities, allowing it to deliver its strategic and charitable objectives. Based on this assessment, we have concluded a G1 grade for Broadland. 

Our judgement is that Broadland meets our financial viability requirements and has the financial capacity to deal with a reasonable range of adverse scenarios but needs to manage material risks to ensure continued compliance. Based on this assessment, we have concluded a V2 grade for Broadland. 

How we reached our judgement

We carried out an inspection of Broadland to assess how well it is delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards and meeting our governance and financial viability requirements, as part of our planned regulatory inspection programme. During the inspection, we considered all four of the consumer standards: Neighbourhood and Community Standard, Safety and Quality Standard, Tenancy Standard and the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard. 

During the inspection we observed a board meeting, spoke to tenants, held meetings with Broadland including with its non-executive directors and reviewed a wide range of documents provided by Broadland.  

Our regulatory judgement is based on all the relevant information we obtained during the inspection, as well as analysis of information supplied by Broadland through its regulatory returns and other regulatory engagement activity.   

Summary of findings 

Consumer – C2 – April 2025 

During the inspection, Broadland provided evidence-based assurance that it has appropriate systems in place to ensure the health and safety of its tenants in their homes and associated communal areas. There is evidence that Broadland keeps an accurate record of the condition of its homes at an individual property level through physical surveys and has a process for keeping this information up to date. Broadland demonstrated that it uses its understanding of the quality and safety of its tenants’ homes to make decisions on future investment to maintain and improve homes.

Broadland has demonstrated a focus on improving the timeliness and effectiveness of its repairs service. However, this is an ongoing process, and further time is required to demonstrate sustained improvement to repairs timeframes and satisfaction with the service. Broadland has demonstrated that it takes the views of its tenants into account when planning improvements around the service.  

Broadland demonstrated that it is working in partnership with appropriate partners to deter and tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and hate incidents in the neighbourhoods where it provides homes. However, Broadland recognises that continued improvements are required in the reporting mechanisms of ASB and we saw evidence that steps are being taken to address this.  

In relation to the Tenancy Standard, Broadland provided evidence that it is letting homes fairly. There are a range of measures in place to support tenancy sustainment including helping tenants to access financial support, request aids and adaptations and assisting with applications to move homes.   

There are some weaknesses in Broadland’s approach in delivering the outcomes of the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard that require improvement. We gained assurance that Broadland treats its tenants with fairness and respect and Broadland also demonstrated that it understands the diverse needs of its tenants. We saw evidence of meaningful opportunities for tenants to influence Broadland’s strategies, policies and services, however, further work is required to develop effective scrutiny arrangements. This work is ongoing and we will continue to work with Broadland as it strengthens its approach in this area. 

Broadland provides a range of relevant and accessible information to tenants, including about its performance. Broadland’s approach to complaints handling is also clear and in line with the requirements of the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard, with published learning from complaints outcomes included in its quarterly newsletter to tenants. 

Governance – G1 – April 2025

Based on evidence gained through the inspection there is assurance that Broadland’s governance arrangements enable it to effectively manage its risks and adequately control the organisation, allowing it to deliver its objectives.  

Broadland’s board has a clearly articulated corporate plan and strategies, and during the inspection, we saw evidence that Broadland’s board proactively reviews its approach to delivering against its purpose. 

Broadland was able to provide evidence that roles, responsibilities and accountabilities within its leadership and governance structure are both well-defined and effective. The relationship between the board and committees is working in line with its delegations to strengthen assurance in key areas of risk and compliance. Board member skills, experience and knowledge are appropriate for the activities of the organisation, and there is a structured approach to succession planning and skills appraisal.    

Continuing governance improvement is evidenced through annual effectiveness reviews and in-depth periodic external governance reviews. The most recent external review took place in 2022, and we saw evidence of the recommendations being implemented as a result.  

Broadland has demonstrated that there is an appropriate risk management and control framework that aligns to its strategic risks. There is evidence that this is set by the board and that risks are being managed effectively in practice. 

Broadland also demonstrated board ownership of stress testing and mitigation strategies, as well as how this is used to inform decisions, supplementing the wider control framework. Reporting to board provides sufficient detail for the board to ensure effective oversight.  

Viability – V2 – April 2025

Based on evidence gained through the inspection, there is appropriate assurance that Broadland’s financial plans are consistent with, and support, its financial strategy. Broadland has appropriately evidenced that it has an adequately funded business plan, with sufficient security in place to support its financial plans. Broadland demonstrated that it has appropriate controls in place to monitor performance against its covenants and the board has oversight of covenant compliance.  

Broadland continues to meet our viability requirements and has financial capacity to deal with a reasonable range of adverse scenarios. Broadland continues to seek to invest in existing stock and maintain its development programme, and the board demonstrated an awareness of the budgetary management required in order to do so. We have assurance that reporting and oversight is in place to manage the associated risks. 

Background to the judgement

About the landlord

Broadland is a charitable non-profit making community benefit society and registered provider. Broadland is the only RSH registered entity in its group, which includes three unregistered subsidiaries. 

Broadland has a portfolio of around 5,500 homes across Norfolk and the north of Suffolk. The majority of its homes are general needs rental accommodation, with the remainder including supported housing, housing for older people and Low Cost Home Ownership. 

At 31 March 2024, Broadland employed 209 full-time equivalent staff. Turnover for the year ended 31 March 2024 was £49.3m. Broadland plans to develop around 75 homes per annum over the next 30 years. 

Our role and regulatory approach

We regulate for a viable, efficient, and well governed social housing sector able to deliver quality homes and services for current and future tenants.

We regulate at the landlord level to drive improvement in how landlords operate. By landlord we mean a registered provider of social housing. These can either be local authorities, or private registered providers (other organisations registered with us such as non-profit housing associations, co-operatives, or profit-making organisations).

We set standards which state outcomes that landlords must deliver. The outcomes of our standards include both the required outcomes and specific expectations we set. Where we find there are significant failures in landlords which we consider to be material to the landlord’s delivery of those outcomes, we hold them to account. Ultimately this provides protection for tenants’ homes and services and achieves better outcomes for current and future tenants. It also contributes to a sustainable sector which can attract strong investment.

We have a different role for regulating local authorities than for other landlords. This is because we have a narrower role for local authorities and the Governance and Financial Viability Standard, and Value for Money Standard do not apply. Further detail on which standards apply to different landlords can be found on our standards page.

We assess the performance of landlords through inspections and by reviewing data that landlords are required to submit to us. In Depth Assessments (IDAs) were one of our previous assessment processes, which are now replaced by our new inspections programme from 1 April 2024. We also respond where there is an issue or a potential issue that may be material to a landlord’s delivery of the outcomes of our standards. We publish regulatory judgements that describe our view of landlords’ performance with our standards. We also publish grades for landlords with more than 1,000 social housing homes.

The Housing Ombudsman deals with individual complaints. When individual complaints are referred to us, we investigate if we consider that the issue may be material to a landlord’s delivery of the outcomes of our standards.

For more information about our approach to regulation, please see Regulating the standards.

Further information

• Regulating the standards

• Regulatory standards for landlords