Housing Associations

There are over 2000 housing associations in England currently managing nearly over 2 million homes and housing at least twice as many people. These organisations are very diverse: the largest manages over 40,000 homes whilst the smallest has fewer than 5. Around 80% of housing association stock is owned or managed by the largest 200 associations.

Collectively, housing associations provide housing for a wide variety of different groups and play an important contributory role in regeneration strategies, working closely with local authorities and other local agencies.

Registered Social Landlord (RSL) is the legal term for social landlords that are registered with the Housing Corporation. Most are housing associations, but there are also trusts, co-operatives and companies. Housing associations are independent, not-for-profit businesses, deploying any surpluses into maintaining their existing homes and helping to finance new ones.

As multi-million pound businesses, the larger housing associations are subject to similar pressures as other commercial organisations. They have to review their structures and patterns of stockholding to maintain financial viability and deliver efficiency. As a result, the sector is constantly changing as patterns of ownership shift and as associations merge, de-merge or form group structures to maximise organisational potential.

Housing associations are increasingly involved in the provision of a wide range of services including the provision of care and support services, low cost home ownership and key worker accommodation as well as activities designed to tackle social exclusion and build successful communities.

Although housing associations employ paid staff, the overall responsibility for the governance of each organisation rests with a board, typically comprised of unpaid members. There are over 30,000 voluntary committee members running housing associations throughout England, representing a range of diverse interests and experience. Committees might include tenants, representatives from local authorities and community groups, business people and politicians. The Corporation has introduced a discretionary regime for payment of housing association Board members, and has new powers to give grant to non RSLs.

Proportions

Sustainable Communities