Landlords Seek To Deregister From Charity Regulator

Housing associations are considering changing their legal status to avoid Charity Commission rules in the wake of the government’s deregulation drive. A number of landlords are thinking about deregistering with the charity regulator, which would allow them to avoid the body’s regulations over stock disposals. The Housing and Planning Act will remove the requirement for associations to obtain consent from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) before they dispose of stock. However, many associations that are registered with the Charity Commission would have to instead obtain consent from this body instead. Read more on Inside Housing.

Right To Buy For Housing Association Tenants – Where Are We Now?

It’s less than a week since the National Housing Federation asked its members to vote on whether to voluntarily give their tenants the Right to Buy. Tenants, housing associations, councils and many commentators have been sharing their views. Here is a flavour of comments made by tenants on TPAS Facebook and Twitter: “The taxpayer is paying for this twice over, through the original grant to build and the disposal of state assets to provide a discount.”

“This means less properties being available. The end result being Housing Associations receiving less income and the housing waiting list getting longer.”

“The right to buy a home should be a fundamental right, but not the home you rent. That already belongs to someone else”

Read more on the TPAS website.

Clark Denies U-Turn on Right To Buy Manifesto Promise

Communities Secretary Greg Clark appeared to have quietly backed down to housing associations on “Right to Buy”. Furious Housing Association fat cats were opposing giving tenants the chance to own their own homes because they argued they were being forced to sell their assets at a discount. Following negotiations and heavy lobbying over the summer, Clark has now said he is considering their new offer to ‘voluntarily’ introduce the extension, ensuring market rate sales with discounts to tenants subsidised by the government. This looks like a complete cave in and effectively a U-turn on a manifesto promise. If landlords only have to sell to tenants on a voluntary basis, tenants won’t have a ‘right’ to buy, landlords will have an “Option to Sell”. Read more on the Guido Fawkes website.

Amendment to Charities Bill As Right to Buy Threat Looms

The Quaker movement is backing a House of Lords amendment to the Charities Bill that will protect homes under threat from government plans to extend the right to buy to housing associations. The amendment was moved by Baroness Hayter and Bishop James Langstaff, who is also Chair of Housing Justice, and passed by the House of Lords on 20 July. The amendment inserts a new clause that reads: “Conduct of charities: disposal of assets: The Charity Commission shall ensure that independent charities are not compelled to use or dispose of their assets in a way which is inconsistent with their charitable purposes.” Read more on 24dash.