Housing association governance

For any organisation, including housing associations, good governance is concerned with enhancing corporate performance and value to the organisation, its shareholders and stakeholders.

Housing associations are responding to the new challenges the sector faces in different ways and in this environment a clear focus on service delivery outcomes for customers is vital. Good outcomes depend on good governance.

The overall framework

The Regulator of Social Housing’s (RSH) regulatory framework and the  are vital components in achieving good governance.

Regulatory framework

The RSH has adopted a co-regulatory approach to the regulation of the sector and will continue to review the regulatory framework as the operating environment for registered providers change.

It’s clear that the framework will continue to emphasise the critical importance of excellence in governance. At this time of such change, effective governance has never been more important to housing associations and also the whole sector.

Individual failure may have significant consequences for the sector, and the RSH Board continues to emphasis the mantra of ‘no failures’.

Code of governance

We published our current Code of governance 2015: board excellence for housing associations in February 2015.

The code recognises the changing environment faced by the sector and continues reflect the latest thinking and good practice in corporate governance.

The RSH’s regulatory framework requires that housing associations must align to an appropriate code of governance.  It is for the board to determine what is right for their organisation but the vast majority of housing associations have formally adopted the Federation’s code.

The Federation is currently reviewing its Code of Governance together with our members and stakeholders, and we expect to publish a revised code in early 2020.