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Newham Homes

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 6 January 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment was made by the Housing Corporation before its abolition of the work undertaken by Newham Homes; (308312)

(2) if he will require the Tenant Services Authority to undertake an investigation into the appropriateness of the level of service charges being levied by Newham Homes on its leaseholders in Brentwood.

Newham Homes is an arm’s length management organisation (ALMO) and not a registered social landlord. As a result of this, no assessment of Newham Homes has been made by either the TSA or its predecessor body, the Housing Corporation.

Tenant Services Authority's remit will not extend to the whole social housing sector until its remaining powers under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 are commenced in April 2010. This legislation will not provide for the regulation of leasehold properties including those that are managed by social landlords.

However, where leaseholders believe that a demand for service charges is unreasonable they have the right to ask a Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to determine the reasonableness of the demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what targets his Department has set for repair and renovation of the housing stock owned by Newham Homes. (308329)

Newham Homes manages the housing stock owned by the London borough of Newham.

Newham Homes currently receives capital funding under the ALMO programme to repair and maintain the housing stock that it manages.

The ALMO is undertaking an investment programme agreed with its local authority, the Department and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The capital funding will enable it to achieve the Decent Homes Standard by 2011-12. The HCA was set up on 1 December 2008 and has day-to-day responsibility for delivery of the Decent Homes programme.