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HIAF members receive valuable advice at successful seminar

Over 30 members attended this event hosted by the Riverside Group. Liesel Annible of Grant Thornton covered fraud risks within the housing sector and highlighted the sector’s obligations in respect of money laundering. Although housing associations are not covered by money laundering legislation like financial institutions, they are covered by the Proceeds of Crime Act. Good practice suggests that our approach to money laundering should be similar to that of a financial institution. Liesel advised that housing associations need to act on any potential suspicions they have about where monies may be sourced.

Helen Green of Housemark described the new Housing Corporation sponsored Housing Association Performance Indicator Validation Guide recently published by HIAF, and the wider issue of performance indicator validation. While Andrea Spamer described Irwell Valley Housing Association’s gold service to those tenants who had a good record of paying their rent, but a lower level of service to those who have arrears issues. She explained how this was reducing arrears and encouraging tenants to take more responsibility for rent payment.

Susan Taylor and Andrew Osivwemu of The Housing Corporation gave an interesting presentation on the Capital Funding Guide and emphasised the need to ensure that The Housing Corporation was involved in any decisions to substantially change a scheme. 

Finally, Paul Lloyd of Whitehead Solicitors spoke about the latest aspects of case law and highlighted how the Disability Discrimination Act might hold some shocking and surprising consequences in relation to rental income.

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