STAIRs
STAIRs stands for Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements, and is a new transparency standard for social landlords, like BHT Sussex.
It was introduced by the UK government in order to give social housing tenants more rights to access information about how their homes and services are managed.
More details about what the standard entails can be found in the government's STAIRs policy statement.
Under STAIRs, housing associations must publish information for example about who they are, how they spend money, and how they manage their homes and performance.
To make it easier to navigate we have grouped this information below using the official STAIRs classifications. This webpage is a work in progress and will be regularly updated with the latest information.
About Us
You can read about our mission here and our values here. Our current strategic plan is here.
- Our Organisational Chart showing our structure and senior members of the organisation is here.
- Information about our Board of Trustees can be found here.
- Senior staff names, roles & bios can be found on our Senior Management Team page.
Our Governance structure
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance, strategy and performance of BHT Sussex. Day-to-day management is delegated to the Chief Executive and Executive Management Team, who are responsible for delivering services and implementing Board decisions.
The Board is supported by four committees:
- Finance, Audit and Risk Committee – Finance, risk and audit oversight.
- Governance Committee – Governance, compliance and trustee matters.
- Operations and Personnel Committee – Service delivery, performance and people oversight.
- Remuneration Committee – Senior executive remuneration.
Our governance arrangements are supported by policies and procedures that help ensure we operate responsibly, ethically and in line with legal and regulatory requirements.
Key documents include:
- Articles of association– Our governing document, setting out how BHT Sussex is constituted and governed.
- Standing Orders – The framework for Board and Committee meetings, decision-making and delegated authority. Available on request from [email protected].
- Standards of Conduct and Probity – BHT Sussex – The standards of behaviour, integrity and accountability expected of Trustees, employees and volunteers.
- Whistleblowing Policy & Procedure – BHT Sussex – How concerns about wrongdoing or malpractice can be raised.
- Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement – BHT Sussex – Our commitment to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking.
- Complaints Policy & Procedure – BHT Sussex – How complaints can be made and how they will be handled.
We follow the National Housing Federation Code of Governance 2020 and carry out annual Board effectiveness reviews to help maintain strong governance and leadership.
Board Papers
We are committed to being open and transparent about our decision-making. Board papers help Trustees oversee performance, manage risk and make informed decisions.
Board papers may include information on:
- Strategy and business planning
- Financial performance
- Risk management
- Service performance
- Health and safety and safeguarding
- Governance and compliance matters
We will publish key documents relating to significant strategic decisions made by the Board where appropriate. This may include information about major projects, partnerships, mergers and other important changes, including the reasons for decisions and their potential impact. This information helps stakeholders understand the rationale for important decisions and how risks, opportunities and potential impacts have been considered by the Board.
Some information may be withheld or redacted where it contains personal data, commercially sensitive information, or other confidential matters.
For further information, please contact us at [email protected].
Tenant consultation
Different aspects of our tenant involvement work are outlined here.
Our most recent and previous copies of Lighthouse, our magazine for tenants, can be found here.
Click here to view our Client and Tenant Involvement strategy.
How We Spend Our Money
At BHT Sussex, we are committed to using our money responsibly to support people and provide safe, affordable homes.
Most of our income comes from:
- Funding from local authorities, NHS and other organisations
- Rent and services charges from our accommodation services
- Grants, donations and fundraising
We use this funding to:
- Deliver services that support people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, addiction issues, and other difficulties.
- Maintain and improve our homes so they remain safe, secure and well maintained.
- Employ and support our staff who work directly with clients and tenants.
- Meet legal and regulatory requirements such as health and safety, safeguarding, and governance.
- Invest in the future to improve services, strengthen financial resilience and maintain our properties.
Accountability
Our Board of Trustees oversees how money is spent and ensures resources are used effectively and in line with our objectives.
We publish information about our finances in our Annual Report and Financial Statements, including a Value for Money Statement and Rent Information,
Information relating to significant strategic decisions, including mergers, business changes and other major projects is included in our ‘Year in Review’ and impact reports where appropriate, found here.
We are committed to being open and transparent about how we use our resources and ensuring they make the greatest possible difference to the people we support.
Procurement Approach
BHT Sussex is committed to responsible procurement. Guided by our values and procurement practices and policies, we want to support our staff to make the right purchasing decisions and ensure suppliers meet our value for money, ethical and sustainability standards. Our practices and policies establish a framework for transparent, fair and proportionate procurement processes that safeguard organisational resources, deliver value for money, promote integrity and support social value. Our approach considers:
- Value for money
- Transparency
- Fairness
- Proportionality
- Ethical and environmental considerations
- Integrity
- Social value considerations
- Compliance with relevant legislation where applicable, including the Procurement Act 2023
Our Procurement policy can be found here.
Tender Opportunities
Current tender opportunities may be advertised through recognised procurement portals, such as purchasing frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS).
Contracts and Awards
Information relating to significant contracts and contract awards may be published where appropriate and in accordance with legal and commercial confidentiality requirements.
Local Purchasing
For lower-value purchases, BHT Sussex seeks competitive quotations in accordance with our internal procedures.
Our Plans and Priorities
We have plans in place to help us provide safe, good-quality homes and services, both now and in the future.
These plans explain how we will maintain our properties, invest in improvements, support our clients and tenants, and make the best use of our resources.
Key documents include:
- Strategic plan 2024-2026 – our main priorities and goals.
- Asset Management Strategy (includes Planned Major Works Programme) – how we look after and improve our properties and our plans for major improvements and building sustainable homes.
- Social Value Policy – how we create positive outcomes for the people and communities we support.
- Client and Tenant Involvement Strategy – how clients and tenants can help shape and improve our services.
By publishing these plans, we aim to be open about our priorities and show how we are investing in our homes, services and communities.
Information about our housing stock profile and transfers, maintenance and repairs work, and energy efficiency improvements to our homes can be found here.
Inspection and Regulatory Information
We are committed to being open and transparent about our performance and compliance with regulatory requirements.
This page provides access to inspection reports, regulatory judgements and other relevant assessments relating to BHT Sussex, including information published by the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman where applicable.
Documents may include:
- Regulatory judgements and notices issued by the Regulator of Social Housing.
- Housing Ombudsman decisions and determinations.
- Inspection reports, audits and reviews where appropriate.
- Action plans developed in response to recommendations or findings.
Publishing this information helps clients, tenants and other stakeholders understand how we are performing and how we respond to feedback, inspections and regulatory oversight.
Performance Reviews, Evaluation Reports and Audits
We regularly review our services, performance and governance to help ensure we are delivering high-quality services and making the best use of our resources.
This page provides information about reviews and audits carried out by BHT Sussex and, where appropriate, by external organisations.
This may include:
- Performance reviews and evaluation reports.
- Audit reports, include those undertaken by external consultants or professional services firms.
- Service reviews and improvement programmes.
- Actions taken in response to audit findings and recommendations.
Publishing this information helps demonstrate how we monitor performance, identify opportunities for improvement and strengthen our services and governance.
Read our Financial Statements here.
See our RSM Annual Internal Report here.
At the bottom of this page you will find the Complaint Handling Code – Self Assessment 2026.
Read our most recent Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM) report here.
Our news stories, many of which are sent out to press, can be found here.
Our complaint handling procedures can be found on our Complaints Policy and Procedure page.
Information Requests and Data Breaches
We are committed to being open, transparent and accountable in how we manage information.
This page provides information about:
- Requests for information received by BHT Sussex.
- Personal data breaches that meet the threshold for reporting.
- How to request information held by BHT Sussex.
To protect privacy, personal information and other confidential details will not published or shared.
BHT Sussex maintains a record of data breaches and information requests and responses. To protect personal data and confidentiality, this is not routinely published but is available on request, with personal and sensitive information removed where necessary.
If you would like to request information or obtain a copy of the record, please contact us at [email protected].
Information about our compliance with Awaab’s Law can be found here.
A lot of information can be found in our Housing Services and Tenants Information webpages.
Please visit the following specific pages for guidance on:
- Repairs
- Complaints
- Anti-social behaviour
- Client and tenant involvement
- Useful contacts
- Your tenancy
- Paying your rent
- Health and safety advice – including fire, gas, electrical, asbestos and water safety
Please visit the following webpages for guidance on:
