Associations face criticism as standards slide
Housing associations that are failing to improve are to be exposed to their tenants under a new regime designed to reverse sliding standards and introduce Best Value to the sector.

Next week Housing Corporation deputy chief executive Simon Dow is expected to lambast associations for falling standards in the sector.

He will reveal new performance indicator figures that show a continuing slide in standards at next week's National Housing Federation's chief executives conference.

But Dow is also expected to set out a new method of presenting performance data aimed at exposing associations who cannot show continuous improvement.

Much greater emphasis will be placed on how individual associations have changed from year to year.

The move is an attempt to mesh the corporation's regulatory regime with the principles of Best Value. Dow will also launch a consultation exercise on Best Value Performance Indicators in the association sector to mirror those proposed for councils.

The moves come after a warning from Dow last year that unless performance improved Best Value would be made a regulatory requirement (Housing Today, 4 March).

Rent arrears, voids, and re-let times are again expected to show a worsening of standards this year. It is believed that performance in large mainstream associations is the cause of most concern.

National Housing Federation director of policy Liz Potter said: "If the corporation is serious about Best Value it should let go of performance standards and let RSLs get on with best value."

The federation claims there should not be two contradictory regimes for regulation with one based on minimum standards and the other on continuous improvement.

But corporation director of regulation Clare Miller insisted: "Performance standards have a role to play - they are not inconsistent with what we are doing on Best Value. It has to be about continuous improvement and not just meeting minimum standards."

She added: "We are talking about how we publish data in future, so that tenants have a clear view on whether their landlords are improving or not."