Leading Change: Navigating Regulatory Challenges and Building Strong Governance in Housing

In an era of heightened regulatory scrutiny, housing organisations are under increasing pressure to not only comply with regulations but to excel in leadership, governance, and cultural maturity. At Tile Hill, we understand the weight of that responsibility and the importance of having the right leadership in place to navigate it.

That’s why we hosted our recent Tile Hill Session, led by Matt Gleeson, Consultant at Tile Hill, to bring leaders together, create space for honest reflection, and share practical insight into how organisations can meet regulatory expectations while strengthening their governance. It’s part of our wider mission to connect organisations with leaders who not only deliver outcomes, but shape cultures and support long-term, sustainable success.

During the session, we heard from several experienced sector leaders who have navigated their own journeys with the regulator. These included:

• Deborah Fenton and David White, from Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council, and
• Steve Wilson, Consultant Project Director at EQUANS and Interim Director of Housing Property Services Transformation at Chesterfield Borough Council.
   

Each of them shared honest reflections and key learnings from their experiences with regulatory challenges.

Engaging with the Regulator: Building Trust Through Transparency

One of the key takeaways from our conversation was the importance of proactive and transparent engagement with the Regulator of Social Housing. Deborah Fenton and David White shared their experience with an interim review that flagged concerns about non-compliance in their building services. This led to a referral to the Regulator of Social Housing in November 2022. While the process initially felt daunting, it ultimately allowed them to address gaps in their compliance systems and build stronger practices.

In this process, Deborah emphasised the importance of being upfront with both the regulator and stakeholders. It’s about fostering trust through transparency, not seeing the regulator as an adversary, but as a partner in improving services and outcomes.

“There’s a great fear in terms of making a referral to the regulator. Not just from members but also from execs within councils,” said Deborah. “But if that’s the case, just carry on working through that and highlight the risks of not doing that referral.”

Governance Beyond Compliance

In today’s regulatory environment, good governance is about much more than ticking boxes, it's about the ongoing, reflective work that ensures long-term compliance and cultural maturity. Leadership teams, boards, and senior executives must not only be compliant but also demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement. As David White shared, leadership at all levels must embrace both internal reflection and external review to maintain accountability.

“Once we felt that we were in a good enough position to ask for the regulatory notice to be removed, regulators wanted an independent review done of our compliance position,” David explained. “They were keen on understanding what lessons we had learned and how we were going to ensure we wouldn’t find ourselves in the same situation again.”

For leaders, the message is clear: governance isn’t just about maintaining standards, it’s about taking ownership and driving change.

The Role of External Support

An important theme that emerged in the session was the value of external support. Steve Wilson underscored the importance of bringing in external consultants who can provide an unbiased, experienced perspective to guide organisations through complex regulatory landscapes.

“I’m here to be your ally, I’m here to be your friend,” Steve remarked. “Consultants are here to help your organisation. …We want to help you shine, whether you're working with a regulator or improving your governance processes.”

This approach of fostering external partnerships reflects the evolving role of leadership in housing, recognising that you don’t have to have all the answers internally, but by working with trusted advisors, you can accelerate progress and ensure compliance.

Preparing for New Consumer Standards

Looking ahead, the introduction of new consumer standards brings an added layer of complexity for housing organisations. In the webinar, Deborah spoke about the importance of using systems like Pentana for performance management and tracking compliance. But it’s not just about having the right tools in place, it’s about setting realistic improvement goals.

“It’s about sustainable, manageable improvements.” advised Steve Wilson.

And as Deborah stressed, it’s all about evidence. You can’t demonstrate compliance unless you have the data and documentation to back it up.

“It’s about evidence, evidence, evidence. If you can’t prove it, you’re not compliant.”

A Culture of Integrity and Continuous Improvement

Ultimately, the key to navigating regulatory challenges and building strong governance is leadership that prioritises integrity and transparency. For housing organisations, this means not just meeting compliance requirements but driving a cultural shift that values openness, trust, and continuous improvement.

How Tile Hill Can Help

If you’re facing similar challenges or want to build a leadership team ready to thrive under increased regulatory scrutiny, let’s talk about how we can support your journey.

We work with housing organisations to build leadership teams that have the expertise, vision, and cultural maturity to thrive under regulatory scrutiny and lead successful, sustainable operations. We understand the complexities of governance in housing and are dedicated to helping leaders and boards build trust with their communities and regulators alike.

Get in touch with Matt Gleeson to find out how Tile Hill can help strengthen your governance and leadership.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights on navigating the evolving regulatory landscape in housing.