HCA: Homes and Communities Agency

Homes and Communities Agency

The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 received Royal Assent in July, paving the way for the official launch of the two proposed agencies - Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the Tenants Services Authority (TSA) - on 1 December 2008, as set out in the Act.

The Homes and Communities Agency is a new housing and regeneration agency for England, which will create opportunities;

• for people to live in affordable homes in places that they want to live in, and
• for local authorities and communities to deliver the ambitions they have for their own area

The Homes and Communities Agency will join up the delivery of housing and regeneration, bringing together the functions of English Partnerships, the investment functions of the Housing Corporation, the Academy for Sustainable Communities and key housing and regeneration programmes delivered by Communities and Local Government. These will include Growth Areas, Thames Gateway delivery, Housing Market Renewal, Decent Homes, Mixed Communities, the Places of Change Programme and Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant.

This integrated approach will enable the HCA to have a single conversation with local authorities and other partners on the housing and regeneration needs of individual areas, providing practical support as well as professional expertise.

With an investment budget of over £5 billion per year, the HCA's scale and resources mean it will be able to bring about a step change in housing supply and enhance people's quality of life. This will not only entail the delivery of much needed housing (both affordable and within the private sector) but also the creation and regeneration of sustainable communities within which these homes are built.

Sir Bob Kerslake has been appointed Chief Executive Designate, heading up an interim set up team until the official launch of the agency on 1 December 2008. Likewise, Robert Napier has been appointed to the post of Designated Chair but will continue in his current role as Chairman of English Partnerships until the HCA becomes operational.

The Tenants Services Authority is a new watchdog for social tenants which will regulate social housing landlords, setting high standards of management across housing associations and, at a later date, local authority social homes.