Organisations from around the construction sector write their wish list for the government's new agencies
The government’s new housing funder and regulator had barely opened their doors before the housing industry bombarded them with demands. In the property downturn housebuilders, housing associations and councils are hoping the homes and communities agency (HCA) and tenant services authority (TSA) can come up with some nice surprises. So what does the sector want in its Christmas stocking from HCA and TSA chief executives Bob Kerslake and Peter Marsh?
Home Builders Federation:The HCA could kick-start house building by reallocating money in its budgets
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: The HCA could invest in sites, move to mixed income rather than mixed tenure housing developments and address affordability and supply for first-time buyers
Savills: The HCA could invest to support development of homes which can be rented until mortgages become available
National Housing Federation: The TSA could be a regulator focused on delivery of services
Local Government Association:The HCA should respond rapidly to local providers' need for flexibility and additional public funding in the current market situation. It should also help councils deliver better homes and new development in line with local ambition and bang heads together across government and quangos so that they help councils deliver infrastructure and development. The TSA should champion the needs of tenants regardless of the type of landlord they have, work with councils to support better performance for tenants, and act as a rigorous critical friend to council and ALMO landlords without tying them up in red tape
Chartered Institute of Housing:The TSA needs to focus on the consumer and put market forces and choice into place. It needs to provide leadership on how affordable housing can be delivered into the future and part of that is the question about where the private rented sector fits in. The question for the HCA is how will it operate differently into the longer term and how much flexibility it has to work in a very different market place. In both cases we are waiting to see how the language will translate into reality.
