The finances and sustainability of the social housing sector

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 28 Mar 2023 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
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 … Read more
21 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
7 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
7 Mar
2025
Report published
28 Nov
2024
Report published
8 May
2024
Report published
22 Jan
2024
Oral evidence
22 Jan
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
17 Jan
2024
Correspondence
17 Jan
2024
Correspondence
13 Dec
2023
Correspondence
8 Nov
2023
Correspondence
12 Sep
2023
Correspondence
12 Sep
2023
Correspondence
11 Sep
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
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
2 results
Clear
10 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The Finances and Su…
Insist regeneration projects fully account for and meet existing tenants' needs.
Regeneration should respect the experience of existing tenants, whose lives will be disrupted, as well as those who will benefit from the new or additional homes in the future. An additional challenge is presented when estates contain both social housing … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects setting detailed standards for providers' engagement in regeneration projects, citing the desirability of providers choosing their own service delivery and avoiding increased regulatory burden. However, it states that existing general consumer standards align with the committee's aspirations for tenant experience.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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34 Recommendation Rejected
Sixth Report - The Finances and Su…
Require Regulator to publish early intervention measures for financial problems in large housing associations
We are pleased that the Regulator is already engaging more regularly with larger housing associations. However, the Regulator must specifically set out what early measures it would be able to take and by when in the event that this engagement … Read more
Government Response
The government describes existing regulatory processes and powers for identifying and addressing financial risks in housing associations, but rejects the call to specifically set out early measures and timelines, stating it would fetter its discretion to react to specific situations.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 20 of 21 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 3
Rejected 2
Total 21 recs + 13 conclusions
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