Two consultations have launched this week relevant to anyone involved in preparing or using housing association financial statements: the Housing SORP consultation and SHR determination of accounting requirements consultation.

SFHA will be responding to both consultations, but individual submissions are also encouraged. Please contact Eli Harji (eharji@sfha.co.uk) with any questions or to discuss further.

Housing SORP Consultation

A 12-week consultation has opened on proposed changes to the recommended financial reporting standards for housing associations. The Housing SORP (Statement of Recommended Practices) provides essential guidance on, and interpretation of, accounting standards for the sector.

The Financial Reporting Council published improvements to financial reporting standards following amendments to Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 102. The SORP Working Party (SWP) now wants to revise the Housing SORP to reflect these changes and other topical accounting issues that have arisen since the last revision in 2018.

Full details can be found on the National Housing Federation's website here. The deadline for responses is Monday 12 January 2026 and early submissions are strong encouraged. The final SORP guidance will be published by 31 March 2026.

SHR Determination of Accounting Requirements

Alongside revisions to the SORP, the Social Housing Regulator is also reviewing the content of the Determination of Accounting Requirements.

The SHR consultation will cover the following guidance notes with full details available on the SHR website here:

  • The Determination of Accounting Requirements
  • Financial Viability of RSLs
  • Preparation of Financial Statements
  • Statement of Internal Financial Control 

The consultation will run for 4-weeks until Friday 14 November. SHR will review feedback and publish the final versions of the Determination and supporting guidance by 31 December 2025, in line with the effective date for FRS 102.

How to Feedback and Respond

For both consultations, please contact Eli Harji (eharji@sfha.co.uk) if you would like more information or to discuss the proposed changes.