Kate Dodsworth

Director of Consumer Regulation, Regulator of Social Housing

1 What do you do for fun?

Running, cooking and supporting Wolves FC (two of these aren’t always fun).

2 You have the power to change one thing about the social housing sector: what would it be?

We’ll be consulting on our new consumer standards later in the year but there’s more than one.

3 What advice would you give to someone starting out in housing?

Make sure you have an abundance of professional curiosity and a solution-focussed attitude.

4 Who’s your favourite author, and why?

One day I’ll sit still and read more books…

5 Strangest thing you’ve ever experienced?

I’ve got a reasonably high bar for what other people might call strange. Perhaps tripping on the step of an old-style slam door train, just as it was leaving the station. I landed horizontally with my legs flapping outside the door. I was wearing platform boots and fuchsia pink trousers so I would imagine it was a terrifying sight for the station guard as the train headed off. It took me some considerable time to get up, in and shut the door – we’d travelled quite far by then.

6 What are your three favourite albums?

My favourite album/playlist is usually the last one I listened to so according to Apple Music the last three are: Skunk Anansie – 25 live@25; Purple Disco Machine Essentials playlist and Roisin Murphy – Overpowered.

7 Sat snugly at home or travelling around the world?

Not exactly around the world but running for connections on one of our obscure train trips in Europe.

8 A world without music or a world without literature?

I’d hate to be without music.

9 If you had to work in housing in another country, where would it be, and why?

Anywhere that teams housing with safe, well-designed public space. I’ve seen brilliant examples in Germany and the Netherlands. I think we’re also focussing more on liveability now.

10 Favourite food?

I’m known for my immense greed and love of all food. All the time I should be reading books (see above) I’m actually planning the next meal.

11 Pessimistic, optimistic or unsure about the future?

All three within a day but undertones of optimism will usually win through.

12 You can resurrect anyone from history and talk to them for an hour: who, and why?

I never met my grandad who was a farmer from 1915 to 1955 and by all accounts one of the nicest people. I’d like to talk to him over some of his notoriously rough cider about changes in agriculture over the years.

13 Favourite film?

Summertime, 1955. Katharine Hepburn in a picture-perfect Venice, being more independent than most female characters of the era were allowed to be.

14 If you didn’t work in housing, what would you do?

I had a job over 30 years ago as a tea lady with oil company Burmah Castrol. I was sadly ‘let go’ after an eventful week with my trolley but who knows what might have happened had I been allowed to develop my skills.

15 What makes for a good life?

A weekly meal plan, a European train timetable and plenty of fresh air.