Housing association turnover exceeds £10 billion

The housing association sector turnover exceeded £10 billion for the first time in 2008, according to the Tenant Services Authority's (TSA) Global Accounts.

Launched today at the National Housing Federation Finance Conference by Chief Executive Peter Marsh (pictured), the Global Accounts 2008 (April 2007 to end March 2008) demonstrate the sector to be in sound financial health and growing in a balanced way.

The sector grew faster than in the previous year, with turnover up by 10.7%, the value of housing association properties up 10% to £85.2 billion, and surplus before tax up 21% to £328 million.


Other highlights of the 2008 figures include:

• Operating costs have grown more slowly (by 8.4%) to £8.1 billion, leading to an increase in operating surplus of 11.2% to £1.6 billion
• Levels of voids and bad debts reported by associations remain at historic lows, suggesting continued strong demand for their properties, together with good performance on rent collection.

Please click here for the full report

NHF - social housing waiting lists set to soar in recession.

The number of people on housing waiting lists looks set to soar to a record high by 2011 as the recession fuels demand for social housing, it was warned today.

The National Housing Federation expects an additional 200,000 households to join waiting lists during the coming two years, pushing the total number waiting for accommodation up to a new high or around two million.

It warned that rising unemployment and a growing number of home repossessions would have a dramatic impact on waiting list numbers during the coming two years.

Social housing waiting lists have soared by 55% during the past five years, with 1.77 million people on them in 2008.

For the full article please click here

NHF Finance Conference & Exhibition 18 & 19 March 2009

The IBS OPENSystems team will be available for informal meetings and product demonstrations of our OPENFinancials product on stand number 120. You may also like to join us for a complimentary cocktail on Wednesday evening!

If you'd like to pre arrange a meeting or demonstration (or a cocktail!) please click here

IBS OPENSystems in the News

IBS OPENSystems are featured in the latest edition of Housing Technology covering our new business wins with Central Bedfordshire Council and Midlothian Council.

To view an electronic version of the magazine please click here to subscribe.

Glasgow Housing Association to pilot CBL

Glasgow Housing Association is piloting a choice-based lettings system in the west of the city.

GHA homechoice will enable around 10,000 people to register an interest in homes which become available in west Glasgow.

The three-month pilot will replace the previous points-based allocation system, which has been used for nearly three decades.

To request details of the IBS OPENHousing Choice Based Lettings module please click here or call your Account Manager on 01635 550088

TCPA proposes plan for "Developing in a Downturn"

Leading planning and housing charity, the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is to set out an ‘Agenda for Action’ on ‘Developing in a Downturn’ and ‘Planning for the Upturn’.

The TCPA has produced a ten point draft discussion document calling for councils and housing associations to join forces to act as planner-developers to deliver homes in the recession.

“We must acknowledge that the old model of housebuilding is broken. The reality is that people delivering development now will be in the public or voluntary sector.

Local authorities with partners such as Housing Associations will be the new planner-developers and ventures such as local housing companies (LHCs) should be backed because the private sector will take time to recover from the recession.” TCPA Chief Executive Gideon Amos OBE

For further details please and to read the full article from www.24dash.com click here

Newark & Sherwood Homes announce implementation

We will shortly commence implementation at Newark & Sherwood Homes. The Nottinghamshire based Hosing Association will be using the OPENHousing, OPENContractor and OPENMobile solutions.

Please click here to request further details

Click here to visit Newark & Sherwood Homes

New business model required for HA's

David Montague, Chief executive of L&Q Group told the Chartered Institute of Housing’s south east conference that the collapse of the UK’s housing sector meant that Housing Associations need to develop new business models to survive the changing market conditions.

Click here for further details

Cartrefi Conwy choose OPENHousing

Cartrefi Conwy has chosen our OPENHousing and OPENContractor products. OPENContractor implementation will start in April 2009 and is due to go live in October 2009. Cartrefi Conwy will also use OPENMobile, OPTITIME and Bar-Coding.

To request further details about this project please click here

Visit the Cartrefi Conwy website here

DCLGA under fire

According to a report by MP's sitting on the the communities and local government committee, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLGA) lacks the skills needed to put vital policies into operation. The DCLG, headed by communities secretary Hazel Blears, was established in 2006 and has a budget of about £34bn.

For further details please click the links below

BBC:- MP's criticse Housing Department
24Dash.com - DCLGA under fire
Inside Housing - CLG under fire

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