This clarification overrides the discrepancy in the Recovery of Capital Grants and Recycled Capital Grant Fund General Determination 2017 (the “Determination”) that indicates otherwise.
The background
It is a long accepted practice that on the transfer of properties from one RP to another, any grant would automatically transfer. The HCA would usually approve this as part of an application for disposal under Sections 172 or 133 for consent to disposal: those sections have now been repealed and replaced by the new notification regime.
The Determination sets out a number of “Relevant Events”. Those Relevant Events trigger an obligation to repay or recycle the grant in accordance with Determination and Capital Funding Guide (“CFG”). Disposals of land would usually trigger liability, but there is an exception (under category (o)(i)), which states:
“to a Registered Provider (taking the property or land subject to liability for the Capital Grant within it pursuant to section 33 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, Section 27(6) of the Housing Act 1996 or any other predecessor legislation with equivalent effect) with prior approval of the Agency;” (our emphasis).
A strict interpretation of this wording implies the HCA will have to give prior consent to the transfer of grant on disposals between RPs to ensure the grant transfers automatically. We questioned whether this was really the interpretation of this wording?
The clarification
The HCA has confirmed that this is not the intention. Whilst the wording of the Determination implies that consent is required, the HCA will not require that RPs seek its approval where they are transferring grant-funded property or land to another RP. The HCA is not proposing to alter the wording of the Determination in the meantime.
So what does this mean?
When property is transferring between RPs, any grant will automatically transfer. There is no need to obtain the consent of the HCA to this. The parties simply have to notify the HCA of the transfer in accordance with the procedures and processes set down in the CFG.
For more information, please contact Jonathan Cox.
It is anticipated that as lockdown restrictions ease, and particularly with children and young adults returning to education, cases of meningitis will start to rise.
As we continue to emerge from lockdown measures and deal with local measures and the short and long term economic impact of Covid-19, local authorities will need to re-assess how services will be delivered for years to come.
The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.
One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals
Throughout this pandemic, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been publishing various “Statements on Coronavirus” (Statements) which provide guidance on consumer rights during this time.
A recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK means new measures are being put in place in an effort to reduce the risk of a second wave. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, it is important to remain focused on the sector’s road to recovery.
Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
Following our recent e-briefing on Possession Notices, Helen Tucker and Emilie Pownall from our housing litigation team discuss the impact of the changes on social landlords.
Not only has the possession stay been extended until 20 September, the notice periods to be given to tenants has been extended in certain circumstances with some important exceptions.
To receive invitations to our events, as well as information and articles on legal issues and sector developments that are of interest to you, please sign up to Newsroom.