TSA and HCA on course to deliver despite challenges

The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) and Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) are on course to become “fully operational” by April 2010. David Lunts, London director-designate of the HCA, and Peter Marsh, chief executive of the TSA, confirmed the timeframe yesterday at London South Bank University’s one-day conference on the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Both men touched on the effect of the current economic climate, with Lunts confirming that the HCA is seeking “new investment models to cope with the current downturn”. Among the options being considered to help shore up provision of housing in London is a review of the top 15 projects already under way to assess whether financial intervention is required. Other options under consideration include giving councils the flexibility to undertake their own housebuilding, encouraging institutional investment into the private rented sector and facilitating sale to rent and infrastructure support initiatives. The 2008 Act was enacted in July 2008 following an independent review of social housing by Professor Martin Cave in 2007. It created two new agencies – the HCA and TSA – which for the first time separate the funding and regulatory functions for social housing. Click here for an article on this subject.