But corporation chairman Baroness Dean is running the risk of incurring the wrath of the sector over her "regulation revolution" which she warns will be "more judgemental" in the future.
The agency has unveiled further details of its "regulation revolution" which it says "fully endorses" the housing Green Paper's call for a regime to be as rigorous as the housing inspectorate.
The corporation's "current thinking" is for an inspection system which replaces the existing unpopular "box-ticking" regulatory regime which focuses on service delivery, stock condition and compliance with specific standards, according to its response to the housing Green Paper.
The move is also aimed at supporting the future transfer by proving to sceptics that housing associations perform as well as councils.
Lead regulators will assess whether associations are delivering continuous improvement based on their Best Value performance plans and performance indicators data.
New inspection teams - possibly featuring tenants - will then carry out "reality checks" of services through "direct observation" and interviews with tenants. They will gauge how far associations are delivering their performacne plans.
Assistant chief executive Simon Dow said regulators will be keeping "a particularly weather eye out" for associations putting repair work on hold due to the forthcoming rent regime.
"We are concerned that associations don't defer essential repair work but instead make efficiencies in core costs," he explained.
Models of inspection will be piloted "over the next few months".
"This is central to ensuring a high quality of of service to consumers and to minimising the disparities between the housing association and local authority sector at a time of rapid increases in stock transfer," the response notes.
Dean told reporters: "We will be more judgemental in the way in which we regulate."
Source
Housing Today
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