Housing Bill has loss of independence risk
March 2008
The Housing and Regeneration Bill completed its Commons Committee stage on 31 January 2008, but the Charity Commission has voiced concerns that proposals in the Bill could undermine the independence of charities and force them into activities that could ultimately lead to the loss of their charitable status.
There are 1400 charitable Registered Social Landlords which make up two-thirds of the social landlords registered with the Housing Corporation.
Rosie Chapman, Director Policy and Effectiveness for the Commission explained ‘independence is central to charitable status and trustees must always be able to take decisions that are in the best interest of the charity and its beneficiaries. If proposals in the Bill undermine their ability to do this, it would have serious implications for charitable housing associations’.
Ed Miliband, the Minister for the Cabinet Office reassured delegates at the recent NCVO 2008 Annual Conference in response to a question from the National Housing Federation that he recognised the Bill was ‘an issue of great debate’ and was talking to ‘the relevant bodies’.
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