For Board Chairs and Executives in social housing, the publication of the Government’s Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) policy statement may initially feel procedural.
Another framework, a compliance date in the diary but STAIRs feels like something more considered than that. It creates space for an important governance conversation one centred on transparency, assurance and confidence in the information that shapes Board decisions.
What’s changing?
STAIRs will give Housing Association tenants new rights to access information about how their homes and services are managed, bringing them broadly in line with council tenants under the Freedom of Information Act.
The implementation is phased:
From October 2026 – proactive publication of key information
From April 2027 – formal responses to tenant information requests within defined timeframes
There is time however that time is valuable because this is not simply about publishing more information, it’s about being confident that what you publish and what you report to Board is accurate, complete and well understood.
Why this sits at Board level?
While operational teams will manage the mechanics, the implications sit firmly in governance. Under the strengthened consumer regulation framework introduced by the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023, transparency and accountability are embedded expectations, overseen by the Regulator of Social Housing. STAIRs adds another layer of visibility, for Boards, that naturally prompts reflection:
- How assured are we that our safety and compliance data is complete?
- Do our asset records truly reflect the condition of our homes?
- Can our performance reporting withstand external scrutiny?
- Are we sighted on where data gaps may exist?
Not because organisations lack commitment quite the opposite. In many organisations, systems have evolved over time and data sits in different places. Processes have developed in response to immediate needs which is entirely understandable in complex operating environments.
STAIRs simply encourages us to look at those realities through a governance lens.
Starting the conversation early
With 2026 and 2027 on the horizon, there is an opportunity to approach this proportionately and thoughtfully.
Early steps might include:
• Mapping what is known versus what is assumed.
• Identifying higher-risk gaps, particularly around safety and compliance.
• Clarifying ownership of critical datasets.
• Testing whether Board reports are fully evidence-backed.
• Reviewing how information requests would be handled in practice.
None of this needs to be dramatic or disruptive however can significantly strengthen assurance.
Ultimately, this is about confidence and trust
Social housing is built on trust between tenants and providers, Boards and Executives, organisations and the Regulator. STAIRs supports that trust by making information more accessible and visible.
For Chairs and Executives, perhaps the most constructive question isn’t whether compliance will be achieved by 2027 it is this: How confident do we feel today in the data behind our decisions?
Opening that conversation now in a measured and collaborative way will place organisations in a strong position as transparency becomes ever more central to governance.
