The chairs of the uk’s four housing association trade bodies wrote to chancellor Gordon Brown last Wednesday to say he must fight moves by the European Commission to make registered social landlords subject to its procurement rules.
Under the rules, housing associations would have to advertise in the European Union’s Official Journal for potential development partners and for maintenance and repair contractors.

This would be time-consuming and could leave them open to legal action from unsuccessful bidders.

The letter from the chairs of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, the Welsh Federation of Housing Associations, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the NHF also warned that the move could add to government borrowing.

A spokesman for the ODPM said the matter was being considered and a decision should be reached in the next few weeks.