The first independent review of social housing regulation for 32 years was announced today.

As statistics were published showing a 25 per cent jump in the number of new dwellings built since 2002, the government commissioned professor Martin Cave, director of the centre of management under regulation at Warwick University to review social housing laws.

Communities secretary Ruth Kelly said that the independent assessment was judicious, since the regulatory framework for social housing had remained fundamentally unchanged since the previous such appraisal in 1974.

“This review is a timely opportunity to look at how the regulatory system should be reformed to better support tenants, reduce burdens on social housing providers and to reflect current and future government priorities,” she said.

Professor Cave insisted that his review would rely on evidence “from all who have an interest in this sector” and would “put the needs of tenants at the heart of the regulatory process”.

The review team has called for evidence of social housing regulation and has set a deadline of February 16th 2007 for responses.

Housing corporation chairman Peter Dixon publicly welcomed the review.

Statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government published today indicate that 163,000 new or converted dwellings were finished in the financial year ending March 31st 2005, a five per cent increase on the previous 12-month period.

Four million of the 21.8 million residential premises in the UK as of March 2005 were rented from a local authority or social landlord.