Setting up your HRA from Scratch

About this event

In 2015, 1,255,000 households were awaiting council homes in England. Today the list of families as of the 31 March 2023 hoping to be accommodated is currently at some 1,287,000 households. Since 2015/16, with the advent of higher band “affordable” housing, 700,000 so called “affordable” homes have been completed. Yet waiting lists have barely shortened because very few on the waiting lists can afford those new builds labelled “affordable”. [ACES Terrier Spring 2023 - PUBLIC RENTAL HOMES Fresh perspectives]

More recently, there is growing recognition that local authorities are, once again, part of the solution to today’s housing crisis. The lifting of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing cap has provided local authorities with the ability to build more Public Rental Homes. However, around half of all housing authorities no longer have HRAs, having lost stock through the right to buy and transfers to housing associations. Many of these local authorities are now looking to set up their HRAs once again but have long since lost the knowledge and experience necessary to re-create their HRA anew and use it to best effect.

This event will provide you with the knowledge necessary to re-establish your HRA and develop your first 30 Year HRA Business Plan. David Ellis, from CIPFA’s finance advisory network, and Steve Partridge from Savills, a nationally recognised expert in business planning and funding for housing investments, will show you how to go about re-establishing your HRA and set out a route map to finance, build and maintain a housing portfolio.

During the day, we will cover:

• A general introduction to the topic.
• Everything you need to know about setting up your HRA.
• An introduction to 30 Year HRA Business Planning.
• How to go about funding your house building programme.
• As this is a network event there will be plenty of opportunity for participation, discussion and debate - with a focus on interaction to get the most from the sessions. 

Who should attend?

The webinar will bring you up to date with the latest changes to housing policy and practice. Our experts will show you how to set up your HRA and 30 Year Business Plan and the practical steps you need to take to set up your HRA structure, processes and procedures.

The sessions will be informative and will give you the confidence to set up your HRA and develop your first 30 Year HRA Business Plan.

How will I benefit?

This webinar is aimed at local authority housing leaders, business planning, development and finance staff who are looking to re-establish their HRA, build new homes at scale to address homelessness and regenerate local communities. Colleagues responsible for budgetary management and future development, both corporately and within housing services may also find this course useful in helping them understand the context in which their services are provided. Corporate strategic policy officers will also find this useful in understanding the opportunities for major redevelopment, regeneration and place making.