HRA reform essential

Most of England’s social housing could come under the control of housing associations within a few years because of the system for funding council housing, housing experts have warned. They are calling for reform to the housing revenue account (HCA) to allow local authorities to keep their rents and reinvest in existing or new stock and to have the same freedom as housing associations to access grants and borrow privately to build homes. Under the current system they argue that allowances for repairs are 43 per cent too low and management and maintenance allowances are 10 per cent short.