Sector Watchdog Changes Name To 'Regulator Of Social Housing'

The regulation arm of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has relaunched as the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). It follows the Homes and Communities Agency’s investment functions being rebranded and relaunched as Homes England. In a letter to housing providers, Fiona MacGregor, executive director of regulation at the RSH, said a previous review of the HCA “concluded that the HCA’s function as the regulator of social housing should be separated from its investment functions, and established as a standalone body to reaffirm the government’s commitment to a strong, independent regulator with credibility within the sector”. Read the letter on the HCA website.

HCA to Launch Investment Arm

The Homes and Communities Agency is setting up a new arm headed up by bankers to manage a £25 billion ‘recoverable’ investment portfolio. Under the plan the agency will take on three senior bankers on secondments as part of plans to recruit around 40 extra members of staff to create a new 80-employee ‘HCA Investments’ division. The move is a response to a shift in emphasis in government policy from grant funding to programmes under which the government expects to recover its investment through instruments such as equity loans and guarantees. The total value of these programmes will increase from around £2 billion last April to £25 billion. Read more on Inside Housing.