The Regulator of Social Housing has de-registered a housing association operating in the West Country after long-standing failure to deliver the outcomes of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard since RSH published its findings in 2021.
Pivotal is a small provider of supported accommodation, and has failed to demonstrate effective governance and that it is managing its affairs appropriately to serve and protect its tenants’ best interests.
The association has been balance sheet insolvent for more than two years and is unable to demonstrate it can manage significant risks to ensure its financial viability in the short or long term. It has failed to meet RSH requirements for robust business planning and stress testing.
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RSH also found fault with how Pivotal has managed the rent standard. It has incorrectly reported homes as social housing and accepts the majority of its homes were not rented at low cost and did not meet the criteria for specialised supported housing as claimed.
There have been significant gaps in its understanding of the condition of its homes and inadequate board oversight to ensure tenants are safe in their homes.
RSH says Pivotal has had extensive opportunity to make improvements to achieve better outcomes for its tenants and has failed to do so. Pivotal may continue to operate as a private landlord, and RSH has guaranteed that their decision does not change individual tenancy agreements.
RSH chief executive Jonathan Walters said: “Being a registered provider of social housing is an important and serious undertaking, carrying clear responsibilities and obligations.
“We are prepared to take action where a landlord fails to take prompt and effective action to meet regulatory standards and protect homes.
“Removal from the register is not an action we take lightly, however, Pivotal was not able to resolve very serious failures and did not respond adequately to enforcement action.”
