30/03/2026
As the financial year draws to a close for many providers, there’s plenty happening in the governance world. In this month’s snapshot we cover some key updates including a security issue at Companies House, the latest Value for Money metrics and our usual round up of key themes emerging from Regulatory Judgements. Grab some mini eggs and dive in!
Companies House WebFiling security issues
On 13 March 2026, Companies House became aware of a security issue which potentially allowed users with an authorised code who were logged-in to the WebFiling service to access and change certain elements of another company’s details without their consent. In particular, company information which is not normally published on the Companies House register (including dates of birth, residential addresses and company email addresses) may have been visible to other users logged into the system. It may also have been possible for unauthorised filings (such as accounts or changes to directors) to have been made on another company’s record.
The statement from Companies House notes that the issue has been resolved and there are no reports of any data having been accessed or changed. However, the incident highlights risks associated with digital filing systems and online account security. For groups operating with registered companies, governance teams should take the following recommended steps:
- check register accuracy – review WebFiling accounts associated to relevant group entities to confirm that officer details, PSC registers and filing histories appear correct. Reset passwords where there is any uncertainty;
- report anomalies - if any information is incorrect, email enquiries@companieshouse.gov.uk with "WebFiling issue" in the subject line, providing your company name and number;
- monitor filing activity – sign up for free Companies House filing notifications so that any unexpected changes are detected quickly;
- late filing deadlines - if you missed a deadline while the service was offline (13th – 16th March), file as soon as possible. You can appeal late filing penalties online, keep screenshots or timestamps of failed attempts as evidence.
The incident has been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the National Cyber Security Centre.
Full details can be found here.
Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) - Regulatory judgements
Key themes from regulatory judgements over the last month include:
- a rare example of positive grading movement with Guildford Borough Council being upgraded from C3 to C1, demonstrating the impact of sustained improvement plans;
- ongoing findings of incomplete or unreliable stock condition data with providers being unable to, as a result of this, evidence that issues can be identified and addressed proactively;
- weaknesses in damp and mould oversight, repairs performance and compliance monitoring particularly where data gaps prevent providers from tracking hazards or targeting interventions effectively; and
- shortfalls in resident engagement and learning from complaints including an absence of complaint themes being escalated and acted upon at board level.
RSH Value for Money metrics report
The latest RSH VfM report highlights record levels of investment in both new supply and existing stock, despite sustained economic pressures on the sector. Alongside this, there are several relevant governance themes:
- financial resilience is under strain, with margins continuing to tighten due to inflation, building safety costs and higher borrowing rates;
- boards must show that investment choices are clearly evidenced, risk-aware and strategically prioritised, particularly where trade-offs are required; and
- the RSH placed renewed emphasis on data quality, especially for stock condition information, as this underpins credible VfM assurance.
Read the full update here.
UK Sustainability Reporting Standards
The Department for Business and Trade has published the final UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS 1 and 2), aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board’s IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and consultation feedback. While reporting under UK SRS is currently voluntary, the standards provide a structured framework for ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and climate-related reporting, including guidance on Scope 3 emissions, non-climate impacts and mechanisms to explain gaps in disclosure.
For housing providers, UK SRS offers a practical benchmark for governance and transparency, even in the absence of a statutory requirement. Boards and governance teams can use the standards to strengthen internal ESG data collection, embed sustainability oversight into risk and compliance frameworks and demonstrate alignment with best practice to funders, lenders, and other stakeholders. Adoption of UK SRS can also help providers prepare for future mandatory reporting and support the growing expectation that housing providers manage ESG-related risks in a structured and accountable way.
In practice, providers may start by reviewing their existing ESG and sustainability reporting processes, ensuring that relevant metrics are captured consistently and that oversight of ESG risks and outcomes is clearly reported to the board. Using UK SRS now can also improve stakeholder confidence, support strategic planning on social and environmental outcomes, and help position the organisation for sustainability-linked finance or partnership opportunities.
The Housing Ombudsman's latest learning report
The Housing Ombudsman’s latest report emphasises the value of timely, meaningful apologies in complaint handling. Case examples show that apologies which are personal, sincere and clearly take responsibility can help rebuild trust and reduce escalation, whereas generic or late apologies often fail to resolve issues effectively.
For governance teams this underlines the important of ensuring that complaint handling policies are robust, that boards receive clear oversight of complaint outcomes and that any recurring issues are highlighted as part of assurance reporting.
AOB
Renters' Rights Act 2025
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 brings substantial reform of the regulatory framework for the rented sector with the majority of changes coming into effect on 1 May 2026.
The changes will have wide-ranging implications for compliance obligations, policy frameworks and operational controls. Implementation will be phased and will require coordinated organisational planning and robust governance oversight.
We recognise that the Act brings complexity as well as opportunity. To support teams, we are providing up-to-date guidance, practical tools and commentary as the legislation is implemented. Access key information including timelines, a library of resources and events here.
Events and articles
SID network
The SID network is an opportunity for housing SIDs to come together and discuss key issues affecting the sector. Each session is an hour and features a short presentation followed by an open discussion, creating space for shared learning and practical insight. The network is a forum for connecting with peers, exchanging best practice and supports knowledge sharing across organisations to enable SIDs to stay informed and supported in their roles.
Our next SID Network session will take place on 6 May 2026 at 2pm and for this event we will be returning to our SIDs-only format. This discussion will focus on two timely and important areas or SIDs:
- Renters’ Rights: key things SIDs need to know following the changes introduced on 1 May;
- Key drivers behind governance and consumer regulatory judgements from the Regulator of Social Housing.
Please get in touch with Kate Lorraine-Francis for more information.
Conferences we are attending:
- Housing Brighton: People and Place 2026 – 6th – 7th May – Andrew Shaw, Katie Dyer, Rebecca Gibson
- UKREiiF – 19th – 21st May – Daniel Halstead and Sarah Orchard
- NHF Governance Conference – 18th June – Rose Klemperer and Sarah Greenhalgh
- Housing 2026 - 23rd- 25th June – Andrew Shaw and Louise Leaver
Other articles you might be interested in:
The Renters’ Rights Act, rental discrimination and implementation in Wales
