Commentary on provisions of Act The Regulator of Social Housing Section 4: Power to charge fees
Section 4 amends section 117 of the HRA 2008 to clarify the extent of the regulator’s fee-charging powers.
	A new subsection (4A) is added to section 117 which clarifies that a fee can be set at a level that covers costs not directly connected to services provided to the particular fee-payer.
	This makes clear that the regulator has the power to recover costs for activities that it does not charge registered providers of social housing for at present. For example, it allows for fees to be charged to cover the costs of investigation and enforcement work, which is a cost which may only relate to a subset of providers.
	Section 4 also extends the ability of the regulator to charge registered providers in relation to unsuccessful applications for registration. Unsuccessful, or withdrawn applications are not currently charged for.
	These changes are to ensure that the regulator can maximise cost recovery in line with standard government policy, through fees charged to the sector.
	Subsection (7) amends section 202 of the HRA 2008 and repeals a specific power to charge fees for inspections. This is to ensure no doubt is cast on the regulator’s general powers to charge fees to recover costs for activities that it does not charge for at present.