Landlords Mull 'Sister Companies' To Swerve Policies

Housing associations are consulting lawyers about setting up ‘sister companies’ to free stock from the effect of government policies. Deregulatory measures contained in the Housing and Planning Bill give landlords the freedom to sell stock without the regulator’s oversight. This would allow associations to create sister companies and sell stock to them, effectively removing them from measures such as the rent cut and Right to Buy. Lawyers have fielded initial queries from a range of landlords and are understood to be formally advising some on the move. The move would likely prove controversial with the government if it was seen as a way to evade reforms. Read more on Inside Housing.