10 June 2005
Time-consuming accounting rules for registered social landlords could be relaxed by the Housing Corporation.
The corporation is proposing to update its rules for the first time since 2001 and drop outdated requirements such as the need to disclose the number of days taken to pay invoices.
RSLs should also no longer have to disclose the pension arrangements of chief executives, or whether they receive certain grants, although they are likely to need to record payments made to board members as well as to directors.
The draft proposals, which are out to consultation until July 11, reflect new corporation policies and circulars as well as recent legislation and recommendations from the National Housing Federation. A corporation spokeswoman said it wished to get rid of requirements that were of limited use or difficult for housing associations to meet.
The rule changes come at the same time as the corporation has announced that it is to commission an independent review of the regulatory and inspection burden facing RSLs. It will look at issues such as risk-based regulation, RSL group structures, data collection and reporting requirements.
Two senior posts at the corporation are meanwhile being merged into the single position of director of regulation. Clare Miller, previously director of regulation policy, took up the new post on June 1.
The post of assistant chief executive (regulation) will disappear when the current post-holder, Bob Dinwiddy, retires at the end of 2005.
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