Genesis Housing Group held a breakfast seminar in London on Thursday 18 January 2008 for key players in the sector to discuss regulation.

'The architecture of regulating for supply' seminar saw speakers, Steve Douglas, Chief Executive of the Housing Corporation, Tony Pidgley, Managing Director of Berkeley Homes and Andrew Heywood, Deputy Head of Policy at the Council of Mortgage Lenders present various arguments before a round-table discussion was opened up.

Registered social landlords (RSLs) met with major developers and funders to discuss the impact of the new Housing and Regeneration Bill, and key issues for the sector.

RSL chief executives talked of their concern with the Bill, fearing that RSLs would become quasi-public bodies. The view from around the table was that the Bill was overly controlling and threatened the independence of RSLs whose ability to innovate and operate flexibly was in danger. There was a call for regulation of outcomes, not of organisations. The independence of RSLs was a critical factor in the sector's ability to borrow and build more homes.

The discussion also turned to government strategies around enhancing choice and enabling greater engagement with residents. This was welcomed and a number of participants stressed the need for effective and choice-based management of new mixed tenure estates. A major developer agreed, urging that good services should be provided whatever the tenure; reduced service charges were not an appropriate response as quality mattered to everyone and was critical to the success of communities.

Anu Vedi, Chief Executive of Genesis Housing Group, said 'Regulation must focus on outcomes, not organisations. And how we manage the places we have built - how we deliver services - that's what matters. In years to come our successes will be judged according to the effectiveness and quality of the neighbourhoods we bring into being'.

This session was the first in a series of breakfast seminars that Genesis will be running in the coming year. The aim is for small groups of major players to get together to have frank and full debates about key issues of the day.

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For further information about Genesis Housing Group, or images, please contact Diana Evans on 020 8150 4178 / email diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations. It also has a charitable foundation, Genesis Community, and is one of the largest and most successful housing groups in the UK. Genesis Housing Group owns and/or manages more than 40,000 homes across London and the south east. Its overiding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.