Shelter campaigners win! Social landlords must be competent in tackling racism

In this article, themes of racism and discrimination are discussed. Readers are encouraged to read at their own pace. Support resources are available for those who may need them.

Shelter campaigners calling for racism to be tackled in social housing have had a positive response from the Regulator of Social Housing.

Last year, we published ground-breaking research, co-produced with a group of 16 peer researchers who identify as Black or Black Mixed heritage and have lived experience of trying to access social housing.

The findings were stark but vital: Black and Black Mixed heritage people continue to face systemic discrimination when trying to secure a social home. This is rooted in historic and structural racism within the housing system. So, last summer, we launched our campaign to tackle racism in social housing.

Our campaign to tackle racism

We argued this needs political will and bold policies – including building a new generation of genuinely affordable social rent homes. Decades of underinvestment have driven inequity and worsened the housing emergency, which disproportionately affects Black people and other People of Colour.

But there was also an unmissable opportunity for making our current social housing system fairer. We called on the government and the Regulator of Social Housing to make anti-racism a key feature of the new Competence and Conduct Standard.

We argued this standard holds the key to real change. It’s the tool that would enable the Regulator of Social Housing to require greater professionalism and hold social housing staff to account. So, it’s a vital step in ensuring everyone is treated professionally and equitably when trying to access a social home.

Our campaign had fantastic support. Since it launched in July 2025:

• last autumn, more than 10,000 people signed peer campaigners’ (Ahmed, Andrea, Tracy, Uche and Victoria) open letter to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, asking ministers to direct the regulator to make anti-racism a key part of the Competence and Conduct Standard

• also last autumn, thousands of people liked and shared our billboard campaign to raise awareness of racism in the housing system. The video became one of our most-liked posts, going semi-viral and reached hundreds of thousands of people

• in spring 2026, over 700 Shelter supporters – including over 100 social housing tenants – responded to the regulator’s consultation on the Competence and Conduct Standard, sharing their views and experiences directly with the regulator

• in June, campaigners Uche and Vanessa wrote to Jonathan Walters, the new CEO of the Regulator of Social Housing, calling for action to tackle racism in social housing. The letter was co-signed by five parliamentarians, Grenfell United, housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa, and others

What did the campaign call for?

We called on the Regulator of Social Housing to:

• introduce a new, standalone Competence and Conduct standard for social landlords, including professional qualifications for senior staff letting, managing and maintaining social homes. To honour assurances made to Grenfell United and Shelter when they campaigned for this new standard.

• make anti-racism a key part of the new Competence and Conduct Standard, including understanding intergenerational racial trauma and tackling unconscious bias and institutional discrimination

• meaningfully involve people with lived experience of racism in social housing when setting, inspecting, monitoring and enforcing standards

What was the result?

We’re pleased to say the regulator listened to our campaigners.

Last month, the regulator confirmed:

• they will introduce a new, standalone Competence and Conduct standard for social landlords, taking effect from 1 October this year. This will send a strong message to social landlords that how they treat tenants is of high importance

• anti-racism will be a key part of the Competence and Conduct Standard:

  • first, it should be part of the course content requirements for professional qualifications, which will be compulsory for senior housing management staff

  • and second, the regulator will strengthen its Code of Practice to emphasise that landlords should consider how staff deliver fair and equitable outcomes for tenants, especially for groups disproportionately impacted through the delivery of services due to ethnicity or other protected characteristics

• on our third ask, we hope the regulator will now meaningfully involve people with lived experience of racism in social housing when inspecting, monitoring and enforcing the new Competence and Conduct standard

Parliament also want action

Shortly afterwards, Parliament’s cross-party Women and Equalities Committee published a report of their inquiry into Black Homelessness. Two peer researchers (Uche and Dani) had appeared before the Committee to give evidence. The Committee’s report recommended:

• the government should introduce specific steps aimed at tackling racial bias, recommending ministers work with local authorities to ensure staff are fully equipped to provide equal support to all racial and ethnic groups in need, and consider including a module on ensuring fairness of process in the new Competence and Conduct Standard

• the government should develop a national performance management framework for homelessness assessments and social housing allocation policies, including specific monitoring of outcomes by race and sex and compliance with the Equality Act 2010

'Changes should embed transparency and accountability in relation to the impact of race in homelessness at national, regional and local levels, with stronger enforcement and increased access to justice for victims of racial discrimination.'

– Women and Equalities Committee chair, Sarah Owen MP

The power of campaigning together 

A huge well done to everyone who’s taken part in this campaign. It shows the impact we have when we all stand together. 

As peer researcher, Tracy, said in her article on the subject: 'Don’t give up!'

The new Competence and Conduct standard is a huge credit to Grenfell United. Since the catastrophic fire at Grenfell Tower in West London in 2017, they fought relentlessly for professional management of social homes. All those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire will be forever in our hearts.

Thanks to housing campaigned Kwajo Tweneboa, who took time to listen to the peer researchers and supported their campaign.

A massive well done to the peer researchers, including Ahmed, Andrea, Dani, Jamila, Simon, Tracy, Uche, Vanessa and Victoria, for their ground-breaking research and determined campaigning.

And well done and thank you to everyone who supported the campaign – by sharing their experience, sharing content, signing letters, emailing their MP or responding to the regulator’s consultation.

What's next?

The new Competence and Conduct Standard for social landlords takes effect on Thursday, 1 October. However, social landlords will have transition periods of 3-4 years (until 2029-30) to make sure all relevant senior housing management staff are qualified or enrolled on to courses.

We urge all social landlords to make sure their relevant staff are qualified well ahead of this deadline. And we urge the regulator to robustly enforce this new standard.

The fight doesn’t stop here. We’re continuing to push for anti-racism and anti-discrimination to sit at the heart of social housing – allocation, letting and management – until they are embedded and embraced in the systems, structures and culture that shape people’s lives. 

Share your story

If you have experienced discrimination in social housing, we want to hear from you. Your personal experiences could help us campaign to prevent others from facing similar problems.