Did you know that the housing association house around 2.7 million households? Social housing forms just over 10% of the number of houses in Britain so there is no wonder that housing associations are strong and well managed businesses with a network of advisers. However, the social housing sector is under scrutiny at the moment with both the Conservative party and the Labour party making pledges to “improve” the sector. Their questions and evaluations have been divided into three sections, namely:
- 1. Business Value – what is the value to the national economy and the local economy?
- Housing Value – taking into account affordability, financial stability, quality of life and wellbeing, what is the value to residents?
- Housing Social Value – what is the value to the residential family unit as a whole, including education and training, money management, care and support, work and volunteering?
My point here is that, while we sit at our desks dealing with enquiries, contracts, leases, funding arrangements and the like, it is easy to forget that we are part of a much larger and complex establishment. We can be so involved in our own little world that we forget the bigger picture. As a commercial property solicitor my job is to assist my social housing clients in fulfilling their objectives by providing a service that is efficient, prompt and provides simple solutions to get the deal done.
I am off to the Social Housing Law Association 9th annual conference on the 17th October. The sessions include, amongst others, (1) housing and tenancy fraud (2) service charges – the past and the future (3) current issues in housing law. I will let you know how I get on in the next blog.
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