Morning Briefing: Channel 4 takes aim at HCA

In the news

Channel’s 4 Dispatches programme last night contained some serious criticism of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The episode, entitled The Great Housing Scandal, questions why the HCA did not “see” any of the complaints from Grenfell Tower residents about their landlord before June’s fatal blaze.

It also points out links between senior HCA figures and Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), the organisation responsible for the upkeep of the Grenfell Tower block.

These links include the fact that Anthony Preiskel was a director of KCTMO while on the HCA’s board, and more tenuously perhaps, that Fiona MacGregor, director of regulation at the HCA, was a “friend” of the KCTMO chief executive.

The programme did not offer any firm evidence that these links were problematic.

The programme also questions whether the HCA is doing enough to deliver genuinely affordable housing, including on land it has sold.

The HCA, which administers funding for affordable housing in England and regulates housing associations through a nominally independent committee, last night hit back at the programme.

The agency published a statement on its website explaining its remit along with a letter to the Channel 4 production team from Nic­k Walkley, chief executive of the HCA.

Mr Walkley said: “The accusations made in your programme are based on a misunderstanding about the statutory responsibilities and role of the HCA.”

Mr Walkley also said it is “inevitable [that] conflicts will arise” when recruiting skilled board members.

Since 2010, the HCA only intervenes in tenant complaints where it feels that there may have been a breach of its standards and where there is a risk of serious harm to tenants.

Last month Inside Housing reported that there had been a 15% increase in complaint referrals to the HCA.

Elsewhere, The Independent newspaper has a report on Shelter research finding that “inadequate” laws are failing to prioritise tenant safety.

The Telegraph reports that Nicky Morgan, chair of the Treasury Select Committee, is calling for an overhaul of stamp duty and measures to encourage the building of bungalows.

On social media

The Dispatches programme has got housing people talking on Twitter:

HCA has plenty of explaining to do after tonight’s #Dispatches. It should be dedicated to providing the maximum of social rented homes without any conflicts of interest. @4socialhousing

— Steve Hilditch (@SteveHilditch)

HCA has plenty of explaining to do after tonight’s #Dispatches. It should be dedicated to providing the maximum of social rented homes without any conflicts of interest. @4socialhousing

— Steve Hilditch (@SteveHilditch) November 13, 2017

Interesting that #dispatches covers both elements of things HCA are arguably doing wrong. ’Regulating’ and overseeing building.

— Rob Gershon (@Simplicitly)

Interesting that #dispatches covers both elements of things HCA are arguably doing wrong. 'Regulating' and overseeing building.

— Rob Gershon (@Simplicitly) November 13, 2017

We deal with @HCA_UK every day. We find them thorough, professional and fair. Come speak to us for some balance. @dispatches #dispatches

— Saffer Cooper (@SafferCooperLtd)

We deal with @HCA_UK every day. We find them thorough, professional and fair. Come speak to us for some balance. @dispatches #dispatches

— Saffer Cooper (@SafferCooperLtd) November 13, 2017

What’s on

• The Chartered Insitute of Housing is hosting a webinar on security in the private rented sector from 11.30am