National Housing Federation

Governance is the framework at the heart of a successful housing association. It sets standards of leadership and control and helps the board to define values by which the organisation will operate.

The NHF has a wide variety of governance resources to support different areas of a housing association governance. Our code of governance is adopted by many members and we support this with additional resources covering a broad range of specific topic areas, from data retention to board appraisal and evaluation.

Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014

The Law Commission has been asked by HM Treasury to review the Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. The NHF will be responding to the consultation. Please review our briefing and send your feedback by Monday 18 November 2024.

Find out more

Are you a board member?

Find out how we support housing association board members to deliver for your organisations and promote excellence in the sector.

Offer to boards

Code of Governance

The Code of Governance is designed to help housing associations achieve the highest standards of governance and board excellence.

Code of Governance

Roadmap to equality: creating an inclusive future

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are integral to housing associations’ work and to excellent governance. Alongside a group of board members, and in partnership with Altair, we've developed a series of resources to help you lead on this work.

Sign up for our Chairs' Challenge, download resources to help guide fair and effective recruitment, and learn from housing associations' experiences running associate board member schemes.

Code of Conduct

The NHF’s Code of Conduct sets out standards for housing associations that are members of the NHF. This is an update of the 2012 publication, and is intended to be used alongside the 2020 Code of Governance. It is for use by individual housing association staff, board members and certain involved residents.

Code of Conduct

Extra support for smaller housing associations

Introducing a new service for NHF members with fewer than 2,000 properties.

Find out more

Upcoming events

20 Nov 2024

Online

Chairs Network - November 2024

5 Dec 2024

Online

National Governance Network

11 Dec 2024

Online

National Board Members Network - December 2024

28 Jan 2025

Online

National Governance Network - January 2025

02 Dec 2025

Online

National Governance Network - December 2025

12-13 Nov 2025

Tbc

Audit and Risk Conference 2025

02 Oct 2025

Online

National Governance Network - October 2025

21 Aug 2025

Online

National Governance Network - August 2025

19 Jun 2025

London

Housing Governance Conference and Exhibition 2025

31 Mar 2025

Online

National Governance Network - March 2025

13-14 Feb 2025

London

Board Leadership Conference and Exhibition 2025

28 Jan 2025

Online

National Governance Network - January 2025

11 Dec 2024

Online

National Board Members Network - December 2024

05 Dec 2024

Online

National Governance Network

20 Nov 2024

Online

Chairs Network - November 2024

Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014

23 October 2024

New board member induction (October 2024)

23 October 2024

Consumer regulation - Insights and learning from regulatory inspections

11 October 2024

Implementing the Consumer Standards in Supported Housing

15 August 2024

View of new build homes with a pathway in front of them and a blue sky behind

Social housing renewal: first steps for the new government

12 July 2024

Support your general election activity with data

Tristan Carlyon

06 June 2024

New board member induction (May 2024)

14 May 2024

NHF response to the The Finances and Sustainability of the Social Housing Sector report

08 May 2024

NHF response to the Chancellor's Spring Budget 2024

06 March 2024

Spring Budget 2024

06 March 2024

Consultation on the Competence and Conduct Standards

21 February 2024

National Board Member Network - December 2023

14 December 2023

Domestic abuse and consumer regulation

01 November 2023

Two people facing each other holding hot drinks

Consultation on the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code

30 October 2023

Induction for new board members (October 2023)

23 October 2023

Smiling people in a meeting room with bottles of water on the table

National Governance Network

18 October 2023

Talking at board meeting - Boards or Chairs Network

National Board Member Network - September 2023

03 October 2023

Case study

21 September 2023

Meet the Board Member: Michael Finister-Smith

Michael Finister-Smith

24 July 2023

Board diversity and the Chairs' Challenge

Maggie Galliers

14 July 2023

View of a corporate event form a lecturn

National Board Member Network - July 2023

12 July 2023

The HSE explains: the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings

05 July 2023

What are the hallmarks of effective boards?

Maggie Galliers

01 June 2023

Changes to consumer regulation

18 May 2023

Meet the board member: Althea Efunshile

Althea Efunshile CBE

18 May 2023

Althea Efunshile is Chair of Metropolitan Thames Valley

New Board Member Induction Briefing - May 2023

16 May 2023

National Board Member Network - April 2023

18 April 2023

Meet the board member: Nicola Knowles

Nicola Knowles

27 March 2023

'Boards are a dedicated force'.

Maggie Galliers

24 February 2023

Chairs who have committed to the challenge

02 February 2023

Succession planning for inclusion

02 February 2023

Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit

02 February 2023

Roadmap to equality: creating an inclusive future

02 February 2023

EDI Chairs' Challenge

31 January 2023

PIB Insurance Brokers

16 January 2023

‘If you’re too comfortable, you’re not learning’ – increasing diversity on boards at Believe

Judith Common

16 January 2023

Meet the board member: Tom Fadden

Tom Fadden

06 January 2023

National Board Member Network - December 2022

06 December 2022

Ensuring excellence for housing association boards

Maggie Galliers

02 December 2022

What does the Autumn Statement mean for housing associations?

22 November 2022

NHF response to rent caps and 2022 Autumn Statement

17 November 2022

The right thing to do – using the Chair’s Challenge to increase diversity of housing association boards

Doris Jamieson

17 November 2022

Who should be allocated social housing?

Neil Morland

06 October 2022

Preparing for the Social Housing Regulation Bill webinar

28 September 2022

Code of Conduct for smaller housing associations

10 May 2022

Why the NHF Code of Conduct still matters

James Tickell, Partner, Campbell Tickell

03 May 2022

An older man in a wheelchair smiles into the camera while a black labrador rests its head in his lap

Becoming a truly disability confident employer

25 April 2022

Code of conduct 2022

The NHF’s Code of Conduct sets out standards for housing associations that are members of the NHF.

PUBLICATION

Strategic Review Dynamic Content Block NEW

Housing associations in 2022: a strategic review

14 March 2022

Director’s and officer’s insurance tailored for housing associations

24 February 2022

Consultation on new tenant satisfaction measures webinar

14 February 2022

Not just because it’s right, but because it’s necessary to be better

Nick Yandle

28 January 2022

Tenant satisfaction measures consultation

10 January 2022

The Thinkhouse board member blog: will our homes and services stand the test of time?

Peter Williams

06 January 2022

The regulatory landscape for smaller housing associations

10 December 2021

Planning for the future through our strategic review

Rhys Moore

29 October 2021

Risk and assurance for smaller HA's webinar.png

Risk and assurance for smaller housing associations webinar

21 October 2021

National Governance Network meeting (recorded 19 October 2021)

19 October 2021

New board members induction (September 2021)

01 September 2021

Meet the Regulator

15 July 2021

How boards can take the lead on risk and assurance

Kelsey Walker

13 July 2021

Non-Executive Director recruitment

05 July 2021

Diversity on boards: how equality and inclusion in the boardroom can transform an organisation

18 June 2021

Succession planning and board recruitment for smaller housing associations

21 May 2021

Introducing extra governance support for smaller housing associations

Sarah Finnegan

06 May 2021

MHCLG complaints process campaign launched

05 March 2021

A young couple with young children on the sofa

New board member induction webinar

09 February 2021

Putting residents’ voices at the heart of decision-making

Althea Efunshile CBE

04 February 2021

A tent pitched up next to a canal by front of a wall covered in graffiti

Our response to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into rough sleeping during and beyond the pandemic

19 January 2021

A couple at home sit at the kitche table looking at a laptop and various paper bills

Government consultation on changes to the Mental Health Act

19 January 2021

Securing Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

15 January 2021

New Sustainability Reporting Standard for housing associations

18 November 2020

Introducing the NHF Code of Governance 2020 (webinar)

18 November 2020

The new Code of Governance reflects our commitment to resident accountability and is a strong platform for housing associations

Catherine Ryder

12 November 2020

New board member induction (webinar)

09 September 2020

What will the long-term impacts of coronavirus be on housing supply?

Kerri Farnsworth

09 September 2020

Environmental, Social and Governance reporting White Paper – consultation responseto Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting - consultation response

12 August 2020

Code of Governance

05 August 2020

Housing Governance Conference: a virtual view

Jacob Rumley

28 July 2020

An A4 print out displayed in a door window with NHS information about coronavirus

The ‘new normal’ - board excellence in recovery from the crisis (webinar)

24 July 2020

Building safety for board members: latest updates and coronavirus response (webinar)

12 May 2020

Board excellence during the coronavirus crisis (webinar)

05 May 2020

Building new homes remains a priority – even in unprecedented times

Anya Martin, Senior Researcher, National Housing Federation

04 May 2020

Governance from a distance – bringing us closer

James Tickell, Partner, Campbell Tickell

30 April 2020

Sign on door with information on coronavirus

Webinar: Regulator of Social Housing

02 April 2020

Important changes to employee legislation

23 March 2020

Building a sector-standard approach to environmental, social, governance reporting

Phil Jenkins

16 March 2020

Why we’re reviewing the Code of Governance

Paul Bayly

09 March 2020

Code of Governance review

05 March 2020

A red fire extinguisher fixed to a white wall

Building safety for board members

25 February 2020

Board Bulletin

05 February 2020

Board member in the spotlight: Danielle Oum

Danielle Oum

04 February 2020

Jonathan Walters is Deputy Chief Executive at the Regulator of Social Housing

Understanding and meeting regulatory requirements (webinar)

23 January 2020

What does the new year bring for board members?

Diana Warwick

21 January 2020

Pennington Manches Cooper: providing legal advice to clients across the sector

20 January 2020

Phoenix Software

20 January 2020

Introducing Thinkhouse: more than just blue sky thinking?

Richard Hyde

16 January 2020

Accountability

31 October 2019

Board management

31 October 2019

Group structures and joint ventures

31 October 2019

Non-board governance

31 October 2019

What the board does

31 October 2019

Housing association governance

31 October 2019

Mixed race family having fun and baking in the kitchen

Local Government Pension Scheme consultation

08 July 2019

Our offer for housing association board members

01 July 2019

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 – what to expect

20 March 2019

Document retention and disposal for housing associations

22 October 2018

Consumer credit authorisation

04 July 2018

Mergers, Group Structures and Partnerships voluntary code

15 December 2015

Board Member Pay

PUBLICATION

Aerial view of village surrounded by fields

Model Rules

27 March 2015

The new Code of Governance reflects our commitment to resident accountability and is a strong platform for housing associations

Catherine Ryder

12 November 2020

02 Dec 2025

Online

National Governance Network - December 2025

12-13 Nov 2025

Tbc

Audit and Risk Conference 2025

02 Oct 2025

Online

National Governance Network - October 2025

Why the NHF Code of Conduct still matters

James Tickell, Partner at Campbell Tickell, explains why the launch of the NHF's updated Code of Conduct is more important than ever at a time when the sector is under scrutiny.

03 May 2022

Why the NHF Code of Conduct still matters

03 May 2022

21 Aug 2025

Online

National Governance Network - August 2025

19 Jun 2025

London

Housing Governance Conference and Exhibition 2025

31 Mar 2025

Online

National Governance Network - March 2025

13-14 Feb 2025

London

Board Leadership Conference and Exhibition 2025

28 Jan 2025

Online

National Governance Network - January 2025

11 Dec 2024

Online

National Board Members Network - December 2024

05 Dec 2024

Online

National Governance Network

20 Nov 2024

Online

Chairs Network - November 2024

Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014

23 October 2024

New board member induction (October 2024)

23 October 2024

Consumer regulation - Insights and learning from regulatory inspections

11 October 2024

Implementing the Consumer Standards in Supported Housing

15 August 2024

Social housing renewal: first steps for the new government

12 July 2024

Support your general election activity with data

Tristan Carlyon

06 June 2024

New board member induction (May 2024)

14 May 2024

NHF response to the The Finances and Sustainability of the Social Housing Sector report

08 May 2024

NHF response to the Chancellor's Spring Budget 2024

06 March 2024

Spring Budget 2024

06 March 2024

Consultation on the Competence and Conduct Standards

21 February 2024

National Board Member Network - December 2023

14 December 2023

Domestic abuse and consumer regulation

01 November 2023

Consultation on the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code

30 October 2023

Induction for new board members (October 2023)

23 October 2023

National Governance Network

18 October 2023

National Board Member Network - September 2023

03 October 2023

Case study

21 September 2023

Meet the Board Member: Michael Finister-Smith

Michael Finister-Smith

24 July 2023

Board diversity and the Chairs' Challenge

Maggie Galliers

14 July 2023

National Board Member Network - July 2023

12 July 2023

The HSE explains: the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings

05 July 2023

What are the hallmarks of effective boards?

Maggie Galliers

01 June 2023

Changes to consumer regulation

18 May 2023

Meet the board member: Althea Efunshile

Althea Efunshile CBE

18 May 2023

New Board Member Induction Briefing - May 2023

16 May 2023

National Board Member Network - April 2023

18 April 2023

Meet the board member: Nicola Knowles

Nicola Knowles

27 March 2023

'Boards are a dedicated force'.

Maggie Galliers

24 February 2023

Chairs who have committed to the challenge

02 February 2023

Succession planning for inclusion

02 February 2023

Inclusive Recruitment Toolkit

02 February 2023

Roadmap to equality: creating an inclusive future

02 February 2023

EDI Chairs' Challenge

31 January 2023

PIB Insurance Brokers

16 January 2023

‘If you’re too comfortable, you’re not learning’ – increasing diversity on boards at Believe

Judith Common

16 January 2023

Meet the board member: Tom Fadden

Tom Fadden

06 January 2023

National Board Member Network - December 2022

06 December 2022

Ensuring excellence for housing association boards

Maggie Galliers

02 December 2022

What does the Autumn Statement mean for housing associations?

22 November 2022

NHF response to rent caps and 2022 Autumn Statement

17 November 2022

The right thing to do – using the Chair’s Challenge to increase diversity of housing association boards

Doris Jamieson

17 November 2022

Who should be allocated social housing?

Neil Morland

06 October 2022

Preparing for the Social Housing Regulation Bill webinar

28 September 2022

Code of Conduct for smaller housing associations

10 May 2022

Becoming a truly disability confident employer

25 April 2022

Code of conduct 2022

The NHF’s Code of Conduct sets out standards for housing associations that are members of the NHF.

PUBLICATION

Housing associations in 2022: a strategic review

14 March 2022

Director’s and officer’s insurance tailored for housing associations

24 February 2022

Consultation on new tenant satisfaction measures webinar

14 February 2022

Not just because it’s right, but because it’s necessary to be better

Nick Yandle

28 January 2022

Tenant satisfaction measures consultation

10 January 2022

The Thinkhouse board member blog: will our homes and services stand the test of time?

Peter Williams

06 January 2022

The regulatory landscape for smaller housing associations

10 December 2021

Planning for the future through our strategic review

Rhys Moore

29 October 2021

Risk and assurance for smaller housing associations webinar

21 October 2021

National Governance Network meeting (recorded 19 October 2021)

19 October 2021

New board members induction (September 2021)

01 September 2021

Meet the Regulator

15 July 2021

How boards can take the lead on risk and assurance

Kelsey Walker

13 July 2021

Non-Executive Director recruitment

05 July 2021

Diversity on boards: how equality and inclusion in the boardroom can transform an organisation

18 June 2021

Succession planning and board recruitment for smaller housing associations

21 May 2021

Introducing extra governance support for smaller housing associations

Sarah Finnegan

06 May 2021

MHCLG complaints process campaign launched

05 March 2021

New board member induction webinar

09 February 2021

Putting residents’ voices at the heart of decision-making

Althea Efunshile CBE

04 February 2021

Our response to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into rough sleeping during and beyond the pandemic

19 January 2021

Government consultation on changes to the Mental Health Act

19 January 2021

Securing Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

15 January 2021

New Sustainability Reporting Standard for housing associations

18 November 2020

Introducing the NHF Code of Governance 2020 (webinar)

18 November 2020

New board member induction (webinar)

09 September 2020

What will the long-term impacts of coronavirus be on housing supply?

Kerri Farnsworth

09 September 2020

Environmental, Social and Governance reporting White Paper – consultation responseto Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting - consultation response

12 August 2020

Code of Governance

05 August 2020

Housing Governance Conference: a virtual view

Jacob Rumley

28 July 2020

The ‘new normal’ - board excellence in recovery from the crisis (webinar)

24 July 2020

Building safety for board members: latest updates and coronavirus response (webinar)

12 May 2020

Board excellence during the coronavirus crisis (webinar)

05 May 2020

Building new homes remains a priority – even in unprecedented times

Anya Martin, Senior Researcher, National Housing Federation

04 May 2020

Governance from a distance – bringing us closer

James Tickell, Partner, Campbell Tickell

30 April 2020

Webinar: Regulator of Social Housing

02 April 2020

Important changes to employee legislation

23 March 2020

Building a sector-standard approach to environmental, social, governance reporting

Phil Jenkins

16 March 2020

Why we’re reviewing the Code of Governance

Paul Bayly

09 March 2020

Code of Governance review

05 March 2020

Building safety for board members

25 February 2020

Board Bulletin

05 February 2020

Board member in the spotlight: Danielle Oum

Danielle Oum

04 February 2020

Understanding and meeting regulatory requirements (webinar)

23 January 2020

What does the new year bring for board members?

Diana Warwick

21 January 2020

Pennington Manches Cooper: providing legal advice to clients across the sector

20 January 2020

Phoenix Software

20 January 2020

Introducing Thinkhouse: more than just blue sky thinking?

Richard Hyde

16 January 2020

Accountability

31 October 2019

Board management

31 October 2019

Group structures and joint ventures

31 October 2019

Non-board governance

31 October 2019

What the board does

31 October 2019

Housing association governance

31 October 2019

Local Government Pension Scheme consultation

08 July 2019

Our offer for housing association board members

01 July 2019

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 – what to expect

20 March 2019

Document retention and disposal for housing associations

22 October 2018

Consumer credit authorisation

04 July 2018

Mergers, Group Structures and Partnerships voluntary code

15 December 2015

Board Member Pay

PUBLICATION

Model Rules

27 March 2015

Who to speak to

Jess Mullins, Head of Member Relations

Jess.Mullins@housing.org.uk

@JessMullins90