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6 July 2009

The Scottish Housing Regulator announces the removal of statutory appointments at Moray Housing Partnership

The Scottish Housing Regulator has announced it has removed the statutory appointments it had placed on the governing body of Moray Housing Partnership (Moray HP) for the last year. But it has recommended to the Scottish Government that Moray HP should receive no further development funding for the foreseeable future. The regulator has concluded that Moray HP needs to demonstrate it is a credible investment partner before it can be considered a suitable developer by the Scottish Government. Investment in new homes in the Moray area will continue, but through other organisations.

Moray HP owns and manages over 400 houses in the Moray area. The regulator appointed four independent housing experts to its governing body in June 2008 because it needed support to deal with serious governance issues and improve its landlord services. The four appointees are standing down from the governing body with immediate effect.

Karen Watt, Chief Executive at the Scottish Housing Regulator, said:

“Moray Housing Partnership is now providing satisfactory landlord services for tenants. But Moray HP has more to do if it wants to be a developer, particularly to strengthen its governance and business planning. It is now up to Moray HP to put the required improvements in place to achieve this goal. We will re-inspect Moray HP next year. I would like to record our thanks for the commitment and resolve shown by the appointees in helping Moray HP over the last year.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said “We are in discussion with Moray Council to ensure that the planned housing projects are delivered and that the £12.5m investment planned for this year is not affected”.

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS

1. The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) is the separate agency that operates independently the regulation and inspection powers in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to:

• protect the interests of current and future tenants, and other service users;

• ensure the continuing provision of good quality social housing in terms of decent homes, good services, value for money and financial viability; and

• maintain the confidence of funders.

2. The SHR published an in-depth inspection report of Moray Housing Partnership in 2006. Inspectors awarded Moray HP a D (poor) grade for property maintenance, a C (fair) grade for housing management, and reported on significant weaknesses in governance.

3. The SHR has assessed progress against MHP’s improvement plan and has seen evidence of improvement in its landlord services.

4. The four appointees were Jo Goodgame, retired Director of Abertay Housing Association, Julie Cosgrove, Director, Servite Housing Association, Rob Hughes, Housing Strategy Officer, Dundee Council and David Goldie, Head of Housing, Highland Council. Appointees are voluntary and unpaid and act alongside elected governing body members in the best interests of the housing association.

Iain Muirhead

0141-271-3760