The National Standards were created by the Tenant Services Authority for all housing associations in 2010.  The standards were revised and updated in 2012 at the time of the abolition of the TSA. The Homes and Communities Agency took on the function of regulating social housing.

The revised standards are separated into two parts: economic and consumer standards. The regulator's role is focused on the economic standards, taking a proactive role in ensuring social housing providers are well managed, financially viable and achieving value for money. The three standards regulated in this way are:

• Value for money standard
• Governance and financial viability standard
• Rent standard

The consumer standards comprise:

• Tenant involvement and empowerment standard
• Home standard
• Tenancy standard
• Neighbourhood and community standard

The regulator will only intervene at a provider if a failure in one of these standards causes 'serious detriment' (i.e. risk of harm) to tenants. The process of co-regulation is responsible for ensuring providers' services comply with the consumer standards. For more information about the National Standards, see the HCA's website.