Thistle Housing Association is to consult tenants and residents this Autumn about a proposal to transfer its homes to Sanctuary Scotland, the Scottish Housing Regulator reports.
The Regulator today published an updated engagement plan which sets out the progress which has been made since intervention at Thistle.
In February this year, Thistle decided to partner with another RSL. It took this decision after carrying out an independent strategic review on the best way forward for its tenants and residents. Thistle chose Sanctuary Scotland as its preferred partner.
Since then, Thistle, has been working with the support of Sanctuary Scotland, to develop a plan to address the issues that led to the Regulator’s intervention.
The Regulator first intervened at Thistle in 2018 after it identified serious failures in governance and financial management. The Regulator currently has a statutory manager and eight governing body members appointed to Thistle Housing Associations Board.
Ian Brennan, Director of Regulation, said:
"Since our intervention independent investigations have identified further serious failures relating to the management of a major investment contract and failure to comply with health and safety requirements for tenants, residents and employees. These failures have resulted in a number of complex problems which are proving both expensive and time consuming to resolve.
“Thistle recognises the frustrations that tenants and residents have suffered and has been working, with the support of Sanctuary Scotland, to develop a plan to address all of the underlying issues. It has told us that there are likely to be significant additional costs, the full extent of which remain uncertain, which had not previously been provided for in its business plan. It has also assured us that delivering the best possible future for its tenants and residents is at the heart of its transfer plans with Sanctuary Scotland.”
Read the Regulator’s updated engagement plan for Thistle Housing Association here.
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Housing Regulator was established on 1 April 2011 under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010. Its objective is to safeguard and promote the interests of tenants and others who use local authority and RSL housing services. The Regulator operates independently of Scottish Ministers and is accountable directly to the Scottish Parliament. It assumed its full regulatory responsibilities on 1 April 2012. The Regulator consists of the Chair and seven Board members. More information about the Regulator can be found on its website at housingregulator.gov.scot
- SHR sets out how it regulates social landlords in its published framework – Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland.
- SHR’s previous engagement plans for Thistle Housing Association and other information is available on Landlord Directory available on its website https://www.housingregulator.gov.scot/landlord-performance/landlords/thistle-housing-association-ltd#panel-4