Reflect on our sector’s journey with our latest Impact Report

There has been a lot of change and challenge for housing associations over the last few years, with new regulations, political instability and a tough financial environment all playing their part.

Outside of our day-to-day business, it’s easy to forget that a huge amount of progress has been made in improving the landscape for social housing and, ultimately, services for residents.

Our latest Impact Report looks back on the sector’s activities over the last three years as we come to the end of our current 2022-25 business strategy.

And what strikes me the most is how many of the milestones and achievements were a collaborative effort, with the sector speaking as one to bring about positive change. The biggest success story has to be the campaign to secure a long-term plan for housing, which everyone involved should be extremely proud of.

A wide cross section of our members also contributed to our new Impact Report with quotes and anecdotes that again shine a light on partnership working and the positive impact it has.

If you haven’t already done so, please take the time to read our report and reflect on all we have achieved together.

And whilst it’s important to look back and assess how far we have come as a sector, we have to keep moving and looking ahead to future challenges.

Over the last few months, we have carried out a comprehensive strategic review to give us new insight and refresh our understanding of the sector’s challenges, strengths and vulnerabilities.

This has involved extensive engagement with around 500 members through 30 dedicated sessions and other meetings, as well as conversations with a range of stakeholders and residents.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part. We are enormously grateful for the time and thought attendees have put into these sessions.

It is clear from our engagement that the sector is currently facing significant financial and operational challenges while managing multiple and, at times, competing priorities.

Linked to that, for the sector to sufficiently invest in existing homes and services and to play its part in meeting growing housing need, it is crucial that the right funding and policy is in place to enable it.

In the short term, we continue to make the case for that by influencing the government’s Spending Review and long-term housing strategy, which are anticipated in 2025.

Longer term, we are currently analysing feedback from the strategic review to shape the priorities for our new five-year business strategy, which will launch in April 2025.

We anticipate those to include continuing to hold a strong relationship with the government to help us achieve shared goals, keeping a strong focus on delivering good homes and services, and maintaining and growing wider support for our sector.

We will set out more details in our refreshed strategic review report in January 2025, after which we will consult with members again ahead of the strategy’s publication.