Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
Direct contact 020 7944 4400- contactus@communities.gov.uk
- Housing
- Decent Homes and housing finance
- Council housing finance
- Review of council housing finance (HRA Subsidy Review)
Review of council housing finance (HRA Subsidy Review)
On 10 March 2008 Caroline Flint, Housing and Planning Minister and Yvette Cooper, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, formally launched a joint (Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury) review of Council Housing Finance (including the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) system). See News release: Yvette Cooper and Caroline Flint launch the review of the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy system - 10 March 2008, for further details.
The purpose of the review is to develop a sustainable, long term system for financing council housing, one that is consistent with wider housing policy, including the establishment of a regulator of social housing. The principles, remit and scope of the review are set out in the Terms of Reference.
The Review is due to report to Ministers in the spring of 2009, setting out options for the subsidy system, including proposals for changes to rent policy and to inform the next spending review. A formal consultation will follow the review.
We are calling on social housing tenants to complete the on-line questionnaire - Tenant Feedback: Review of Council Housing Finance - on the key issues of the review. The answers to this will be vital in ensuring the views of tenants are represented in the outcomes of the review. Please complete by 31 October 2008.
A number of Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) facilitated regional events and theme-based workshops are being held with experts and practitioners to discuss different aspects of the review.
The events are being framed around the following workstreams:
- Costs and standards
- Rents and service charges
- Funding mechanisms, and
- Rules governing the HRA
In addition the CIH have set up an E-forum at http://moodle20.cih.co.uk/ (external link) where you can register and debate a range of questions/issues related to the review.
Communities and Local Government and HM Treasury will also be holding regular bi-lateral meetings with sector representatives.
As part of the initial evidence gathering stage of the review you may email us at: hrareview@communities.gsi.gov.uk to submit evidence.
Where possible please state which workstream(s) your evidence relates to. A range of questions are set out below in the Questions for workshop discussions, which may help with your response.
Alternatively you can also write to:
Review of Council Housing Finance Team
Communities and Local Government
1/B1
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU
The deadline for submitting evidence to the review is 31 October 2008.
