July 2019
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Attendees discussed key proposed areas of reform in the social housing green paper, which included: mandatory ‘resident engagement strategies’ and efforts to address stigma; the consumer redress system; regulation and accountability of housing associations and councils; and plans to expand pathways to home ownership via social housing.
The seminar also included consideration over the delivery of housing, meeting demand, new ‘Housing Deals’ and challenges for planning. Delegates deliberated over the next steps for government policy in order to support the construction of new homes for social rent and shared ownership in the context of:
- The announcement of strategic partnerships between Homes England and housing associations to increase the supply of affordable homes;
- The first housing delivery test results, which showed that many councils have under-delivered;
- Removal of the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap;
- The Government’s consultation on reforming rules on using receipts from Right to Buy homes to build more housing; and
- Increased borrowing for councils to build new homes.
The agenda looked at how the planning system can assist councils in delivering government targets to increase delivery and supply - including priorities for infrastructure and developer contributions following recommendations in the NAO’s Planning for New Homes report.
Further sessions assessed the future of regulation in the social housing sector, such as quality, complaints and accountability. Attendees considered options for the future regulatory framework for the sector, and looked at:
- The scope, role and enforcement powers of regulators;
- The green paper’s call for reforms to the complaints handling for social tenants;
- The proposed review of the ‘Decent Homes Standard’;
- What more housing associations and local authorities can do to further support and empower communities; and
- The future of accountability for housing associations and local authorities and the affordability of social rent.
