Statistical Data Return

(SDR)
Proposed changes for 2024
November 2023
Version 1

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 Statistical Data Return (SDR) changes for 2024

Contents

Introduction 2
How to provide feedback 2
Timescales 2
Structure of the return and summary of changes 3

Detailed changes – Entity level information (long and short form) 4

Change to existing questions 10 and 11 4

Detailed changes – Entity level information (short form only) 4

Proposed new questions 16 and 17 4

Detailed changes – Affordable Rent housing (long and short form) 5

Change to existing question 3 5

SDR guidance 7

Help and support 7

Change History 7

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Statistical Data Return (SDR) changes for 2024

Introduction

The Statistical Data Return (SDR) is an annual census conducted by the Regulator of Social
Housing and completed by English private registered providers (providers) of social housing.
Data for this return must be submitted electronically via the NROSH+ system
(https://nroshplus.regulatorofsocialhousing.org.uk/).
This document sets out changes we are proposing to make to questions in the SDR for the
2024 collection. These changes are designed to improve the coverage and quality of data
collected and to better enable us to carry out our statutory aims.
Prior to introducing these changes, we are giving private registered providers the opportunity to
provide thoughts and feedback. In particular, providers are encouraged to reflect and comment
on the following questions:

• Do you currently have the information available in your data systems to answer the
proposed questions?

• If not, is it feasible to make the adjustments needed to gather this information in time for
completion of the SDR and submission in 2024?

• Is there any particular guidance you would want to see in relation to these questions?

• Do you have any other questions or concerns, or require additional clarification on any
of the proposed changes?

How to provide feedback

Please send any feedback on the proposed changes to the SDR collection in 2024 to:
enquiries@rsh.gov.uk
When providing feedback, please indicate which proposals you are commenting on. It is not
necessary to provide feedback on all of the proposals contained in this document. Note that
not all questions covered in this document will be relevant to all providers.

Timescales
We welcome feedback on these proposals until Wednesday 31 January.
We will consider the responses received and aim to confirm the changes which will be made
by end of February 2024. However, there may be subsequent changes and providers must
refer to the final published guidance in March 2024 for the final SDR requirements.

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 Statistical Data Return (SDR) changes for 2024

Structure of the return and summary of changes

Completed Proposed change Questions
by: impacted
Entity level information All providers References to 2023 updated to 2024. Q4, Q5 and
(see also detailed changes on p4-p5) Q6

Administrative questions and Existing questions capturing registered parent organisations to Q10 and Q11
organisational information about be split to capture private registered providers and local
the provider. authority registered providers separately.

Small New questions for collection of information on building height to New

providers inform the allocation of the Fire Safety Remediation survey to
only small providers.

Affordable Rent housing
(see also detailed changes on p5-p6)
Questions about Affordable Rent
programme and rents.
All providers Existing building height questions amended to reflect the Q3
relevant building definition in the Building Safety Act (2022).
Further details on the act can be found at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30/contents/enacted

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Statistical Data Return (SDR) changes for 2024

Detailed changes – Entity level information (long and short

form)

Change to existing questions 10 and 11

In past surveys providers have been asked to confirm if their parent is a registered provider
(Q10) and select their name and registered number from a dropdown list (Q11). This year we
propose to make changes to questions 10 and 11 to capture both private and local authority
registered provider parents.
Proposed change
The existing questions 10 and 11 will be split into two sets: two questions for private registered
provider parent organisations and two for local authority registered provider parents.

Detailed changes – Entity level information (short form

only)

Proposed new questions 14 and 15

We are proposing to require small providers to answer two new questions relating to their
status as a Responsible Entity for buildings of relevant height. These questions will inform the
allocation of the Fire Safety Remediation survey to small providers.
Proposed change
For the purposes of these questions, we will use the Building Safety Fund definition of
Responsible Entity:
The Responsible Entity is the organisation that has the legal obligation or right to carry out the
remediation works. The Responsible Entity may be the building’s freeholder or head
leaseholder, registered provider of social housing or a management company or Right To
Manage (RTM) company that has primary responsibility for the repair of the property.
Relevant height is defined in each question, question 14 relates to buildings of between 11
metres and 18 metres in height OR which have 5 or 6 storeys but are below 18 metres in

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 Statistical Data Return (SDR) changes for 2024

height and question 15 relates to buildings of at least 18 metres in height or which have at
least 7 storeys.

Detailed changes – Affordable Rent housing (long and

short form)

Change to existing question 3

We are proposing to change how data relating to building height is recorded in the SDR. This
change is being proposed to align the SDR with the definition of “relevant building” in the
Building Safety Act 2022 (see Part 5, Section 117) which received Royal Assent in April 2022.
The act defines a “relevant building” as a self-contained building, or self-contained part of a
building, in England that contains at least two dwellings and

• is at least 11 metres high, or

• has at least 5 storeys.

The full text of the Act can be found at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2022/30/contents/enacted
Proposed change
The recording of houses and bungalows will remain unchanged but the recording of the
existing category ‘Flat (in a building that is less than 18 metres in height and has fewer than 7
storeys)’ will be split into the two categories:

• Flat (in a building that is less than 11 metres high AND has fewer than 5 storeys*)

• Flat (in a building that is at least 11 metres high OR has at least 5 storeys and is less
than 18 metres in height AND has fewer than 7 storeys*)
This question will continue to cover all owned Affordable Rent units.

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 Statistical Data Return (SDR) changes for 2024

SDR guidance

Full guidance materials for the 2024 SDR collection will be made available to providers via the
Documents section of NROSH+ on or before 1 April 2024. Providers will be notified once this
material is available.

Help and support

The NROSH+ website contains guidance documents which are designed to take users through
the process of using the system and submitting returns.
In addition, as we receive enquiries about the completion of the returns, FAQs will be added to
the website as a reference tool for all users.
Providers can ask for more information about any process of data submission either by
telephone or email. All questions are directed in the first instance to the Referrals and
Regulatory Enquiries team. Their contact details and availability are:
Telephone: 0300 1245 225
Email : NROSHenquiries@rsh.gov.uk
Availability: Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays)
Please note: the RRE team have ‘read only’ access to data submission templates and to any
data in the system. They will not have the facility to input or change data on user’s behalf and
the responsibility for completing the submission remains with the provider.

Change History

Version 1.0 November 2023 Initial release.

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© RSH copyright 2023
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except
where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-
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Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain
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This publication is available at: https://nroshplus.regulatorofsocialhousing.org.uk/

Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us via enquiries@rsh.gov.uk
or call 0300 124 5225.
or write to:
Regulator of Social Housing
Level 2
7-8 Wellington Place
Leeds LS1 4AP

RSH regulates private registered providers of social housing to promote a viable,

efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver homes that meet
a range of needs.