Housing Corporation News Release
19 March 2008 22/08
Most local authorities have good working relationships with housing associations in their area, finds Corporation survey.
Seventy per cent of local authorities have a good relationship with housing associations in their areas, the largest ever survey of local authority views of housing association -performance commissioned by the Housing Corporation - has found.
The Housing Corporation invited local authorities across the country to take part in an on -line survey to provide feedback on their views on the performance of housing associations working in their areas.
A total of 168 local authorities provided feedback, an overall response rate of 48%. 152 out of the top 200 associations and 51 of the top 60 groups received ratings from their local authority partners, ranking them in terms of management services, quality of development, decent homes, sustainable neighbourhoods and the extent to which they contributed to wider strategic agendas.
Initial survey findings also show that:
- 63% of local authorities rated housing management services as effective or very effective;
- 53% of local authorities praised housing associations' work on wider strategic agendas;
- 60% rated housing association developments as good or very good;
- 54% felt associations promoted sustainable neighbourhoods.
Steve Douglas, Housing Corporation Chief Executive, said, "The initial survey findings show how effectively housing associations and local authorities are working in partnership across the country.
"The survey will provide us with a unique with a insight into how local authorities view the associations working in their areas, identifying areas of real strength as well as where progress is needed. It provides a vital snapshot of the sector as we move towards the creation of OFTENANT and the Homes and Communities Agency.
More information on the survey will be available from a dedicated webpage at: www.housingcorp.gov.uk/survey.
A full report of the survey findings will be published later in 2008.
Ends.
For further press information, please contact Sandra White on 020 7393 2094.
Notes to editors:
1.The Housing Corporation invited local authorities across England to take part in an online survey to provide feedback on their views of the performance of housing associations working in their areas. This will help the Corporation to build up a nationwide picture of authorities' relationships with associations operating in their areas.
2. 354 local authorities in England with a strategic housing role were invited to give their views on the performance on the five largest associations active in their area They were also given the option to provide further feedback on any other association working in their locality. Local authorities were invited to give their perceptions on performance in the following areas:
- effective working relationship with the LA;
- effective housing management service;
- contribution to tackling homelessness;
- contribution to wider strategic working;
- quality of development;
- commitment to Decent Homes Standard;
- promotion of sustainable neighbourhoods and communities; and
- co-operation with Overview and Scrutiny.
3. The Housing Corporation is the Government's national affordable homes agency, responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. The Corporation's £8 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 is funding 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these are for affordable rent, and 35,000 are for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.
4. The Housing Corporation is also responsible for regulating housing associations, which provide some two million homes across England.
5. The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency and Office for Tenants and Social Landlords.