Homes & Communities Agency revises guidance on disposal of social housing

The Homes and Communities Agency has issued revised guidance on the selling of vacant social housing homes in a bid to reduce the administrative burden on providers. 

The document gives guidance on the revised procedures for gaining the HCA’s consent to the disposal of social housing and other land, and introduces changes to the process by which the regulator will approve programmes of disposals.

Providers of social housing will now able to seek the Agency’s consent to a policy of disposals, rather than individual consent as is currently the case. 

“This will increase flexibility and reduce administrative burden for providers who can demonstrate a strategic approach to the management of their assets,” the HCA said.

Matthew Bailes, Director of Regulation at the HCA, said: “This change to our consent process recognises that a programme of sales can be an important part of providers’ strategies to achieve best use of the resources available to them. It will particularly help those providers with agreements to deliver new Affordable Homes, with sales receipts contributing to the overall resource requirements.

“It is also intended to relieve administrative burdens for those providers who have developed plans for a significant level of sales, where previously they would have to seek individual consent.” 

The guidance can be downloaded here