Settle was created to help people who are struggling to find a place to live. Settle help our customers to stay in their homes comfortably, so that they can live the life they choose. settle is a modern social business. As a proud provider of social housing, Settle manage over 9000 properties across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Formed in 2003, they were previously known as North Hertfordshire Homes. Settle world is changing. Against a backdrop of financial difficulty for some and an inaccessible housing market for many, they’re here to tackle challenges familiar to us all. Settle have bold ambitions to build more much-needed affordable homes and to improve the services they offer to provide an easy to access, simple to use service that their customers can put their trust in. Settle are proud of their work and the value of social housing. Settle know that having somewhere to settle, even for a short while, has the power to transform people’s lives.
RSH Narrative Regulatory Judgement
Provider: Settle Group
Regulatory code: L4370
Publication date: 15 November 2022
Governance grade: G1
Viability grade: V2
Reason for publication: Viability regrade
Regulatory route: Stability Check and Reactive Engagement
Regulatory judgement
This regulatory judgement regrades our previous published assessment of Settle Group’s financial viability from V1 to V2 and confirms its G1 grade for governance.
The regulator has assurance that Settle Group (Settle) complies with the financial viability elements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard. Its financial plans are consistent with, and support, its financial strategy. Settle has effective treasury management arrangements and has ensured access to adequate levels of liquidity. It also forecasts ongoing compliance with financial covenants.
Settle is planning to increase investment in its existing homes, including works to improve energy efficiency. It is also forecasting increasing development costs. In combination with the current economic uncertainty in relation to inflation and interest rates, these factors place pressure on financial performance and reduce its capacity to deal with downside risk.
The regulator’s assessment of Settle’s compliance with the governance elements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard remains unchanged. On the basis of the Stability Check, the regulator has concluded that there is no evidence to indicate a change to Settle’s current governance grading.
Housing Ombudsman
The complaint is about the resident’s concerns relating to the landlords handling of her data.
The landlord’s response to reports of mould, damp walls, and ceilings. The landlord’s response to concerns about the boiler’s low pressure and a leak from a radiator. The landlord’s response to a request for compensation for damage to the carpet following a leak.
The complaint is about the landlord’s handling of reports of damp and mould at the property.
The complaint is about the landlord’s handling of the resident’s request for repairs in her property and the communal areas of the building.
The complaint is about the landlord’s decision to rent an area of land near the resident’s home to private owners.