The finances and sustainability of the social housing sector
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry seeks to examine the finances and sustainability of the social housing sector in England. In recent years the financial pressures for social landlords have increased as they face the demands of building new homes, retrofitting existing stock to improve energy efficiency, remediating stock with cladding and other building …
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21
Recommendations
13
Conclusions
1
Report
4
Oral sessions
7
Letters
4
Events
Activity timeline 18 events
7 Mar
2025
2025
28 Nov
2024
2024
8 May
2024
2024
22 Jan
2024
2024
Oral evidence
22 Jan
2024
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
17 Jan
2024
2024
17 Jan
2024
2024
13 Dec
2023
2023
8 Nov
2023
2023
12 Sep
2023
2023
12 Sep
2023
2023
11 Sep
2023
2023
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
22 Jan 2024
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Bernadette Conroy · Regulator of Social Housing
Jonathan Walters · Regulator of Social Housing
Peter Denton · Homes England
Shahi Islam · Homes England
The Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
11 Sep 2023
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Oral Evidence
Dave Meseck · DMG Eco
Felix Ejgel · S&P Global Ratings
Gemma Bourne · Big Society Capital
Neil Brown · Inclusion Group
Simon Century · Legal and General
Steve Collins · Rentplus-UK
19 Jun 2023
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Oral Evidence
Conrad Hall · Newham Council
Councillor Pippa Heylings · Local Government Association
Deborah Heenan · Populo
Jamie Kellett · abrdn
John Marr · UK Finance
Kathryn Jones · Dudley Council
Michael Scorer · Southwark Council
Piers Williamson · The Housing Finance Corporation
12 Jun 2023
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Oral Evidence
Fiona Fletcher Smith · G15
James Prestwich · Chartered Institute of Housing
Kate Henderson · National Housing Federation
Kate Wareing · Soha Housing
Paul Fiddaman · Karbon Homes
Professor Tony Crook · University of Sheffield
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth Report - The Finances and Sustainability of the Social Hou… | HC 60 | 8 May 2024 | 34 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
22
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - The Finances and Su…
Financial pressures lead to deeply concerning decline in new social housing construction.
It is deeply concerning that as a result of financial pressures on social housing providers less new social housing will be built. This will further exacerbate the chronic shortage of social housing and will place further unacceptable pressure on those …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns about financial pressures on social housing providers and explains how increased expenditure on existing stock, coupled with rising costs, is impacting their capacity to invest in new housing supply.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
32
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - The Finances and Su…
Risk of individual housing association insolvencies threatens broader sector investment and stability
We recognise that the social housing sector is, as a whole, financially resilient. However there remains a very real possibility that individual housing associations may come close to insolvency. One housing association defaulting on its loans could have a knock-on …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion on the social housing sector's financial resilience, agreeing with the assessment of significant financial pressures and potential for individual insolvencies, and outlines ongoing engagement with providers and expectations for early warning of viability risks.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
33
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Sixth Report - The Finances and Su…
Limited ability of Regulator of Social Housing to manage large housing provider insolvency
We are concerned that some of the largest housing associations may face more financial risk, because they have higher fire safety costs and they have been building more homes. At the same time, we are also concerned that the Regulator …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's concerns about financial risks facing large housing associations and confirms the sector faces significant pressures. It states it will continue to engage closely with providers demonstrating weak financial performance and expects early warnings of viability threats.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
View details
Correspondence 7 letters
17 Jan 2024
To committee
Letter from Minister Rowley to the Chair dated 16 January 2024 concerning giving evidence on the finances and sustainability of the social housing sector inquiry
Parliament page
17 Jan 2024
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Housing Minister dated 15 January 2024 concerning giving evidence on the finances and sustainability of the social housing sector
Parliament page
13 Dec 2023
To committee
Letter from the Chair to the Housing Minister dated 5 December 2023 concerning the finances and sustainability of the social housing sector
Parliament page
8 Nov 2023
To committee
Letter from Rentplus concerning follow-up from the Committee’s session on 11 September on finances and sustainability of the social housing sector, dated 25 September 2023
Parliament page
12 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from National Housing Federation, G15, Karbon Homes and Soha Housing to the Chair dated 10 August 2023 concerning housing associations’ surpluses
Parliament page
12 Sep 2023
To committee
Letter from Sage Homes to the Chair dated 24 July 2023 concerning finances of social housing
Parliament page
27 Jun 2023
To committee
Letter from Rentplus to the Chair dated 21 June 2023 concerning the Rent to Buy model of home ownership
Parliament page