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Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) Easy to read summary
STAIRs is a new set of rules that helps social housing tenants get information from their landlord. It is about making landlords more open about how they run homes and services.
What STAIRs means for you
If your landlord is a private registered provider, such as a housing association, you may be able to ask for information about how it manages its social housing. This could include information about repairs, complaints, spending, services, performance and decisions.
Key dates
From 1 October 2026, landlords must publish certain information so tenants can find it more easily.
From 1 April 2027, tenants can make direct information requests to their landlord under STAIRs.
How to ask for information
Check your landlord’s website first. The information may already be published there.
If you cannot find it, write to your landlord and clearly say what information you want.
Your landlord should respond within 30 calendar days. If it needs more time, it should tell you why and when you can expect a response.
If your landlord says no
Your landlord can refuse a request in some situations. For example, it may refuse if the request is unclear, repeated, abusive, outside the STAIRs rules, or would take more than 18 hours of staff time to answer. It must explain its reason.
If you are unhappy with the response
Ask your landlord for a STAIRs review. Explain what information you think is missing or why you are unhappy.
Your landlord should usually respond to the review within 30 calendar days.
If you are still unhappy after the review, or you do not get a response, you may be able to complain to the Housing Ombudsman.
You should usually complain to the Ombudsman within 3 months of the landlord’s review response.
Important to know
STAIRs is for information about how social housing is managed.
It is not usually the right route for asking for your own personal information. That is normally handled as a Subject Access Request.
STAIRs does not replace your landlord’s normal complaints process.
The Housing Ombudsman can look at STAIRs complaints from 1 October 2026.
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