I was surprised to read that Home Group is involved in "secret talks" with the Housing Corporation about "waiving some of its rent restructuring obligations" (9 January, page 8). The truth is quite the opposite.

I have been publicly arguing since rent control was introduced that a rigid system of rent control will serve to reduce repair standards – and this was before the decent homes standard was invented. It gives me no pleasure to have been proved right.

Maintenance is a very expensive business, with costs currently running at around 4% above inflation. These are likely to increase as the building boom soaks up the limited supply of skilled workers, labour and material prices increase, tenant expectations rise, and the costs of improving customer service standards and recruiting, training and developing staff add pressure to our revenue budgets.

I have suggested to the government, civil servants and the corporation that rent restructuring should be relaxed, with the increased income ring-fenced to allow associations to meet the decent homes standard. If this is refused, it is quite possible that some associations may have problems meeting decent homes, which after all is only a minimum standard. They may also have to cut back on development at a time when the corporation wants to at least double association output.