Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs)

View the Publication Scheme here
Request Personal Information here
Make a STAIRs Request here
STAIRs FAQs

What are STAIRs?
The Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs) was introduced by the UK Government in 2026, giving social housing residents more rights to access information about how their homes and services are managed.

It was created in response to serious failures in the social housing sector, aiming to make landlords more open, transparent and accountable for the homes and services they deliver.

The scheme requires housing associations to:
- By October 2026 – have a publication scheme, detailing key information about the organisation on their website
- By April 2027 – give residents, or their nominated third parties, the right to request information directly from their landlord.
This scheme only applies to the management of our homes and services, and it does not apply to residents’ personal information. If you would like access to how your personal information is used or shared, you will need to submit a Subject Access Request instead.
Click here to submit a SAR.

What information is included?

From October 2026, Eastlight is required to provide you with necessary information without needing to ask for it. This includes details on how Eastlight is governed and makes decisions; how money is spent; information on our performance; our policies and procedures; and how we manage our homes and services for residents.

From April 2027, you can start to directly make a STAIRs request. This includes asking for information on things like our policies, procedures, spending, procurement, performance, decision-making records, plans and strategies.

Please note: We are not obliged to complete STAIRs requests at any time before 01 April 2027. However, in order to be transparent, Eastlight may choose to complete a STAIRs request prior to this date.

See what STAIRs requests you can make here.

Eastlight’s Publication Scheme

A lot of the information required for the publication scheme is already available across the Eastlight website. To make it easier to find this information, please see links and information below:

Our Governance & Decision-Making

Our Spending & Financial Information

Our Corporate Plan & Strategies

Performance

Our Housing Management & Services

Our Lists & Registers

The list below outlines the information held in registers as required by law. More may be added over time as the STAIRs publication scheme develops:

Property Directorate -

Asbestos Register
Decent Homes Standard
EICR Register
Lift servicing Register (LOLA)
Gas Safety Register

Strategy, Governance & Assurance Directorate -

Records of Processing Activities (RoPA)
Data Breach Register
Shareholders Register
Register of Members
Fraud Register
Money Laundering Register
Health and Safety Accident and Near Miss Register

The list below outlines other lists and registers relating to the management of social housing. More may be added over time as the STAIRs publication scheme develops:

Strategy, Governance & Assurance Directorate -

Subject Access Request Register
Data Subject Rights Register
Freedom of Information Requests Register
Data Protection Impact Assessment Register (DPIA)
Legitimate Interest Assessment Register (LIA)
Transfer Risk Assessment Register (TRA)
DP2 Requests Register
List of Directors
List of Directors Residential Addresses
List of Company Secretaries
Persons of Significant Controls Register (PSC)
Gift and Hospitality Register
Signing and Sealing Register
Whistleblowing Register
Modern Slavery Register
Scrutiny admin sheet
Build East Key Contacts
Ex Estuary residents
Ex L&Q residents
Master Consent List
Press contracts
Subscriptions
ARN subscriber list
Stakehold Matrix Master list
My Eastlight portal pre-registered residents (Feb26)
My Eastlight portal pre-registered residents (Dec25)

Finance Directorate -

Security Register accessed via Asset & Liability Register
Insurance Claims Register
Property Rent Setting List
Lease Register

Customer Services Directorate -

Out of Hours
Personal Safety Register
PCFRA Completion Spreadsheet
Aids & Adaptations Spreadsheet
Guest Room Bookings (Housing for Older Persons)
Direct Let Spreadsheet
Legal Spreadsheet

More information on our publication scheme

Ownership

This publication scheme is owned by the Company Secretary. If you have any suggestions, complaints or feedback about this scheme, please contact STAIRs@eastlighthomes.co.uk.

Review periods

This scheme should always be up to date as possible and meets residents’ needs. This publication scheme will be reviewed by the Data Protection Officer every six months, or whenever change arise to the way we work, the types of information we publish, or how we make that information available. We will make it clear and confirm the period covered for when information has been published, but all information shared under the scheme should reflect the latest position as far as reasonably practicable.

Accessibility

While this publication scheme and information is provided digitally on our website, we will make best endeavours to ensure all information can be accessed by residents in ways that meet their needs. If you would like this in an alternative format, please contact us at STAIRs@eastlighthomes.co.uk.

How to raise a request

Requests must be submitted in writing, this could be via letter, email, or online form.

Please note that we may withhold information from publication. All requests for what information has not been shared can be explained on a case-by-case basis.

Charging for requests

We will not charge for accessing the information on our publication scheme, where it is available on our website. However, we may charge a reasonable fee for alternative formats and multiple copies. Charges will be justified, transparent and kept to a minimum, where possible.

Requesting personal information

Any requests for personal information will be treated as a Subject Access Requests. These will be dealt with under existing conditions, including the right to redact information where this infringes on other people’s right to privacy, commercially sensitive or otherwise inappropriate to share within the request.

See more about SARs here.

What requests can I make?

From 01 April, you can make requests on:

Anti-social behaviour
Complaints handling
Policies, procedures and performance
Health and safety
Rent rates
Property conditions, repairs and improvements to property
Service charges
Stock profile
Energy efficiency information
Estate management.

We will acknowledge all requests within three calendar days, with a full 30 calendar days to respond to your request.

Please contact us at STAIRs@eastlighthomes.co.uk to submit your request, or if you need support in navigating or understanding this publication scheme.

Frequently asked questions

What is STAIRs?

The Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements, known as STAIRs, is a new Government scheme that gives social housing residents more rights to access information about how their homes and services are managed.

STAIRs introduces:

A publication scheme – landlords like Eastlight must publish key information online via their website
A right to request information – residents and their nominated third parties can ask for information directly from their landlord.

This makes housing associations more transparent and accountable, like the Freedom of Information (FOI) rules used by councils.

Why has STAIRs been introduced?

STAIRs was created to give residents stronger rights after serious failures in the social housing sector, including:

The Grenfell Tower fire (2017) which exposed major failing in safety and resident voice.
The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, caused by untreated mould, which led to new laws being enforced to ensure landlords act faster on safety concerns.

The government’s goal is to make landlords more open, transparent, and responsible.

How does STAIRs affect me as an Eastlight resident?

STAIRs will give you new rights to:

Easily access important information about how Eastlight is run
See how Eastlight makes decisions
Understand how money is spent
Request information we hold about managing your home, building, or community and the services Eastlight provides
Challenge decisions if information is not provided

What are the key deadlines?

Phase 1: Publication Scheme – 01 October 2026 – Eastlight must publish information online

Phase 2: Resident Information Requests – 01 April 2027 – Residents can start making formal information requests

Response time to information requests: 30 calendar days – How long Eastlight has to respond to each request

What is the Right to Request Information?

From 01 April 2027, you can ask Eastlight for information we hold that relates to the management of your home or building.

You can request things like:

Policies and procedures
Spending or procurement information
Performance and service information
Records of decisions and how they were made
Plans and strategies

This applies only to information about social housing.

Who can make a STAIRs request and what is a designated representative?

Any current Eastlight resident or their designated representative can submit a STAIRs request. The public cannot make a STAIRs request. A designated representative is someone you have given written permission to act for you. This could be a family member, friend, neighbor, lawyer or other legal representative, a support worker, social worker, advocate, or a journalist (only if you authorise it).

How will I find the information Eastlight has published?

All required information will be published on Eastlight’s website in a dedicated publication scheme section. You will be able to browse categories, use search tools, and download documents. If you are unable to access information online, you can request printed copies or support from Eastlight.

How do I make a STAIRs request?

Requests must be submitted in writing, this could be via letter, email, or online form. The request must include your name, address, and contact information as well as enough detail for Eastlight to understand what information you are requesting. I some circumstances we may need to take extra step to confirm your identity.

Will it cost me anything to make a STAIRs request?

Most STAIRs requests will be free of charge. Reasonable fees may be applied on case-by-case basis such as printing and posting lengthy documents. If any cost applies, Eastlight will explain this to you beforehand so you can decide how to proceed.

What happens after I submit a request?

Once you submit a request, Eastlight will:

Acknowledge your request
Check your identity (if needed)
Clarify the request (if needed)
Locate and review the information
Apply any necessary redactions
Send your response to you within 30 calendar days

Responses will normally be sent by email unless you request another format.

What if I need information in a different format?

Eastlight will make reasonable adjustments to support you. This could include:

Large print
Easy read
Translated documents
Printed copies

If you have accessibility needs, Eastlight will work with you to provide the information in a suitable format.

What if Eastlight needs more information from me?

Eastlight may pause the 30-day deadline if:

We need proof of your identity; or / and
We need clarification regarding the information you are requesting

The 30-day deadline restarts once this information has been provided.

Are there any types of information that cannot be shared?

Yes, some information is legally protected. This includes:

Personal data about other people
Certain commercially sensitive information
Legally restricted information
Anything that could cause safety or security risks
Information we simply do not hold
Information not relating to our social housing functions

If we need to remove (redact) parts of a document, we will explain why.

Can I request personal information under STAIRs?

No, STAIRs is only for information about housing management, not personal data. If you want to access your own personal information, such as your tenancy records or repairs history, you will need to submit a Subject Access Request (SAR) instead. For more information on how to submit a SAR, click here.

What support is available if I don't understand the information?

If the information provided is technical or unclear, Eastlight can explain the documents to you in plain language, talk you through the details, provide document summaries, and signpost you to further support. You won’t be left to interpret complex information alone.

Can I challenge a decision if information is withheld or delayed?

Yes, STAIRs includes a formal review process. You can request a review if you believe:

Information should have been provided
Redactions were not fair
Information should be published under the scheme
Eastlight took too long to respond

A review can be carried out by a designated manager that was not involved in the original decision. You will receive a clear written outcome within 30 days. If you are still unhappy, you can take your case to the Housing Ombudsman within three months of the outcome of your review.

How is Eastlight preparing for STAIRs?

Eastlight is already working to ensure full compliance, this includes: