The Regulator has been engaging with Albyn over the last two years regarding its management and governance of changes at board and operational level and its related business change programme. From this engagement, it is seeking assurance about compliance with its regulatory standards.

Albyn is also regarded as a systemically important landlord due to its level of debt.

An investigation into anonymous complaints, in part related to the management and oversight of an ongoing change programme, has now been concluded by the board.

No findings were upheld from the investigation, however a separate review was commissioned to review and support Albyn’s governance, including a risk review and a health and safety audit.

The Regulator noted that Albyn has prepared a substantial action plan to address weaknesses identified as part of this governance review.

The engagement plan said: “We will monitor the implementation of this plan. We need assurance about the board’s understanding of its roles and responsibilities including the risks to tenants’ interests of Albyn failing to meet its obligations as an employer. The board is currently working to give us assurance about its governance arrangements and members’ capacity to progress these issues.”

To support this work the board has been strengthened by three experienced co-options and one of these new members will take up the chair’s post in January 2022. Albyn has also recruited a director of governance and business improvement for two years to help progress the action plan.

Both the chair and chief executive resigned in August and Albyn is therefore carrying out a strategic options appraisal. Director of customer services Kirsty Morrison has been appointed as interim chief executive until June 2022 and a further interim appointment has been made to the director of customer services post until June 2022. There is therefore a full leadership team in place providing support to the board.

The Regulator added: “We are engaging with Albyn to monitor progress with its action plan and the longer term change programme. Both the board and the leadership team are working openly and constructively with us as they take forward this work.”

Kirsty Morrison, interim chief executive of Albyn Housing Society, told Scottish Housing News: “We have been working diligently to address some issues. I am very pleased to say that thanks to the hard work of our team and our robust action plan, we have taken several important steps forward. This includes the appointment of new board members and a new chair, as well as a director of governance and business improvement. Importantly this provides a strong base from which to work in the best interests of Albyn’s customers.”