"Housing Minister Grant Shapps' plans to consult on a new way for tenants and members of the public to scrutinise how housing associations are run is little more than a deflection of political pressure and administrative tasks," says David Darvill, partner, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP.
"Against the backdrop of a dearth in funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) I suspect local authorities and other grant providers' housing associations need little reminding of the need to maximise efficiency both in their administrative infrastructure and front line services," explains David Darvill.
"Its likely that this proposal will be viewed with some dismay and even cynicism in housing association circles as a way for central and local government to pass the Freedom Of Information compliance on with the administrative burden that goes with it, as well as deflecting political pressure from themselves."
The Government will consult with housing associations later this year on whether to extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to include housing associations, many of which receive substantial public investment.
Mr Shapps believes bringing housing associations under the Freedom of Information Act could make it easier for tenants and the public to find out more about how their landlords work, and what their taxes pay for.
"Tenants of housing associations already have ways and means of holding their landlords accountable, so one assumes it's the public at large who will be the scrutinisers in the main," continues David Darvill.
"However, most housing associations would maintain that lack of sufficient funding remains the key issue - not how the money is spent."
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