Facing the Future challenges and opportunities for housing

Facing the Future: challenges and opportunities for housing in Wales Wednesday 8 February 2017 Jurys Inn Cardiff

Wales – it’s interesting! Alistair Mc. Intosh, HQN

It better be because you won’t be going here anymore…

What did that vote mean?

You are on the same thin gruel as the rest of the UK

What are others doing?

Why is everyone talking about merger?

What can we learn from mergers in other places?

What can we learn from mergers in other places?

We listened to what Scotland ( say and Wales ) had to

De-merger is big business too

The hidden hand of the robot is behind everything

What is so different about your response?

Will you stay united?

Delivering for Wales James Burgess, Welsh Government Clarissa Corbisiero-Peters, Community Housing Cymru

Date Delivering for Wales Clarissa Corbisiero-Peters, Deputy Chief Executive

13, 500 homes 12, 500 skills and training opportunities Work together to prevent homelessness Innovation Join up health, social care and support

Rent Independence Grant Planning and land Supporting housing development across Wales

3 words to describe HAs

3 words you think others would describe us as

What role do you see for housing associations over the next 5 years?

One thing that excites you….

Imagining our future. . PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES: Who will we house? What services will we provide? STATE: What will our relationship be like with the state? WORKFORCE: What skills do we need?

Shifting Sands Bob Smith, Regulatory Board for Wales Mike Owen, Merthyr Valleys Homes David Wilton, TPAS Cymru

perspective on Housing Association Regulation in Wales Facing the Future: Challenges and opportunities for housing in Wales Housing Quality Network Cymru 8 th February 2017, Cardiff Bob Smith Regulatory Board for Wales

Housing Association Regulation in Wales A new Regulatory Framework established late 2011 (post Essex Review) Purpose: to ensure Welsh housing associations are: - well governed - financially viable and well managed - delivering high quality and improving services Principles: - tenants at the heart of regulation - individual associations responsible for their own actions - co-regulatory approach Process: an evolving Regulatory Framework - new judgement framework and performance standards

The Regulatory Board for Wales (RBW) New Board appointed early 2016 Housing association sector specific All independent members (no stakeholders on the Board) Range of backgrounds, skills and experience Collaborative approach (e. g. with Regulatory Advisory Group, with wider housing sector, with tenants etc. ) Challenge role Advisory role

Key Priorities for Regulation ONS Reclassification (regulatory reform) Encouraging good housing association governance Enhancing tenant engagement (ensuring the tenant is really at the heart of regulation) Promoting Value for Money (Vf. M) Delivering effective regulation Helping HAs learn lessons from regulation (good regulatory intelligence) Working collaboratively (co-regulatory approach) for maximum effect

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Inquiry into Housing Association Governance and Regulation 2017 Effectiveness of the Consultation current Regulatory Framework? Effectiveness of coregulatory approach? Quality and effectiveness of HA governance? Effectiveness of regulatory regime in managing and mitigating sector-wide risks? Levels of remuneration for HA senior staff? Stakeholder event (Dec 2016) Written submissions (Jan 2017) Evidence sessions (Jan – Mar 2017) PAC Report (Late Spring/Early Summer 2017? ) Response?

RBW Submission to PAC: Key Issues Ensuring robust and effective regulation Importance of good governance Putting tenants at the heart of regulation Independence Potential of collaboration across regulatory domains Regulation adding value (e. g. strategic learning, value for money) http: //senedd. assembly. wales/documents/s 58008/8%20 Regula tory%20 Board%20 for%20 Wales. pdf

Challenges: for Housing Associations, Regulator and Welsh Government Delivering to meet needs, demand expectations Managing risks (internal and external; known and unexpected) Developing skills and expertise (current and future) Managing change (reactive and proactive) Working together Respecting and valuing diversity and difference

Comments and Questions

Shifting sands Mike Owen Chief Executive

At least we are in Wales • • • Government that wants social housing Co-regulation Strategic plan for homeless Supporting people Supporting co-ops Ending RTB

But • • ONS Public Accounts Committee Welfare reform No real solution to under 35’s

Issues – Rent Poverty Benefit cap Rent VFM LHA

Issues –Valleys M 4 Community First Valleys Anchor investor LHA

Issues –Governance Accountable Issues for LSVTs Code of Governance Complex business Role for tenants/ employees

On the horizon • LHA for OAPs • Dowry gap funding • Asbestos

Merthyr Valleys Homes For more info Twitter @merthyrvh @mikeowen 2390 Website www. mvhomes. org. uk

David Rhys Wilton Director TPAS Cymru

Tenant’s role in the future n New approaches for tenant engagement and participation n Community n Keeping reform n Using asset transfer track of continuous & significant welfare digital engagement tools better. n Representation and equality

Digital participation. n Tenant did a video Facebook post on potholes. n After 24 hours: 122 post views, 4 likes, 0 comments n I set up Facebook geo-targeting advertising tool for 10 days: n 8, 000 views (4, 600 paid, 3, 400 organic) n 61 likes, 32 comments, 26 shares n Cost $18. 94

New homes n Engaging n Co-op housing, modular housing. n Better n tenants in new models of building environmental standards and technology fits multiple agenda of emissions, fuel poverty and future generations. n Affordable rents v’s intermediate rents n Location and eligibility n Infrastructure around it. n Solutions for under 35 s under LHA cap.

What the future holds

HQN Cymru – A new way of working Jon Land, HQN