Housing associations

Housing associations are not-for-profit organisations that build, regenerate and manage social housing. They aim to house people on low incomes and those who are homeless or living in poor conditions. Many were set up over the last decade to manage and develop social housing transferred to them by local authorities. Housing associations that are registered with the relevant body (Housing Corporation, Communities Scotland, the National Assembly for Wales or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive) are called Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). Housing associations are the main providers of new social housing in the UK. There are about 2,400 housing associations providing at least 1.8 million homes across the UK. Housing associations rent most of their housing to families and people nominated by local authorities. Therefore, most will not accept applications direct from single homeless people. Some also manage Hostels and housing projects or lease buildings to voluntary organisations that provide accommodation, care and support to homeless people and other groups. Housing associations run most shared ownerships schemes which were introduced in 1980 to help people who cannot afford to buy a home outright. Purchasers obtain a mortgage for a share of the property and also pay a proportion of the rent set for the property to the housing association.

Titlesort icon Author Publisher Year
Housing Associations and Homelessness Briefing Communities and Local Government Communities and Local Government 2003
Housing Corporation Website Housing Corporation Housing Corporation
Housing Law and Precedents Driscoll, James Sweet and Maxwell 1994
Housing Law Monitor Informa Law Informa Law
Housing Needs and Domestic Violence: Refuge Provision by Scottish Housing Associations Goldsack, Sue Housing Policy and Practice Unit 1997
Housing Rights Manual Housing Rights Service Housing Rights Service
Housingnet Website Housingnet Housingnet
Housinguk Housinguk Housinguk
Local Decisions on Tenure Reform Garvie, D. Shelter 2012
Meeting the Need: Irish Housing Associations in Action Randall, G and Brown, S Innisfree Housing Association 1997
National Housing Federation Website National Housing Federation National Housing Federation
Race Equality in Access to Housing Services: A Good Practice Guide National Housing Federation National Housing Federation 1998
Shelter Guides: Housing Association Tenancies Shelter Shelter 2002
Social Housing for Single People? A Study of Local Policy and Practice Anderson, Isobel and Morgan, James Housing Policy and Practice Unit 1997
Statutory Code of Practice on Racial Equality in Housing, England Equality and Human Rights Commission Equality and Human Rights Commission 2006
Support for the 'Fourth Option' for Council Housing: Report on the Inquiry into the Future Funding of Council Housing House of Commons Council Housing Group House of Commons Council Housing Group 2005
Tackling Homelessness: Efficiencies in Lettings Functions Housing Corporation Housing Corporation 2007
Tackling Homelessness: Housing Associations and Local Authorities Working in Partnership Centre for Housing Policy Housing Corporation 2007
Temporary Accommodation for Homeless People Gill, Frank Shelter Scotland 2001
The Agency Directory Voluntary Action Sheffield Voluntary Action Sheffield 2008