Commentary on provisions of Act Standards Section 24: Direction by Secretary of State
This section amends section 197 of the HRA 2008 by adding a new subsection (2A) which allows the Secretary of State to direct the regulator in relation to standards under new section 194A (competence and conduct standards) inserted by section 21 and under new section 194C (information and transparency standards) inserted by section 22. The power of direction in relation to information and transparency standards only applies to standards which relate to the provision, by registered providers, of information to their tenants about the management of their housing.
	This section, in partnership with section 21, which sets out powers for the regulator to set standards relating to the competence and conduct of staff, will enable the Secretary of State to direct the regulator to set a standard on matters relating to the competence and conduct of individuals involved in the provision of services in connection with the management of social housing.
	This section will also, in partnership with section 22, which sets out powers for the regulator to set standards relating to information and transparency, enable the Secretary of State to direct the regulator to set standards:
Requiring private registered providers to follow an 'Access to Information scheme', which allows tenants to access information from their landlord about how their housing is managed, as set out in the Social Housing White Paper; and
Requiring all registered providers to provide their tenants with information about their rights and information about how they can make a complaint against their landlord.