The housing association sector trends project brought together 15 years of data from the Regulatory and Statistical Return, the annual census of housing associations registered with the Tenants Services Authority to form a cohesive relational database. This gives added value to the data as it can be used for time series analysis to determine trends in the housing association sector and relate these to changes in policy, finance and regulation. Such data is also useful for scenario planning for future directions.
Each year the vast majority of Housing Associations registered with the TSA were required to fill in the Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR). This survey provided key data used for regulating the sector. In addition to information about the core rental stock, the RSR also covered activities such as low cost home ownership, stock management and staffing. Due to its annual collection, a potential time series data set now exists. The aim of this project was to bring together the RSR data sets from 1989 onwards in a form that would allow time series analysis to be undertaken. This resulted in the production of a relational database covering the years 1989-2001, together with supporting technical documents. The approach to data collection in the RSR changed in 2002, making the production of a separate time series dataset necessary from that year forwards. This has also been produced, together with linking tables enabling analysis across the two datasets to take place where suitable variable matches exist. A series of Briefing Papers present the results of time series analysis on data from selected Parts of the RSR, for example, on stock levels, lettings and vacancies, stock adaptations, rent levels and shared ownership. A fuller Research Report documents the setting up of the database and uses examples of time series analysis to provide evidence of how the HA sector has changed in relation to the policy, financial and regulatory background since 1989.
It all adds up: Changes in the provision of housing association stock 1989 to 2005
This study investigates the role of housing associations in the development and maintenance of social housing stock by charting the changes in stock levels from 1989 to 2005, including the impact of properties transferring from council ownership and the knock-on effect of transfers on the rise of availability of social housing.
The study concludes that a more-even regional distribution of stock has occurred in the set period and that significant changes in stock utility have been witnessed in the South West of England. Prospects for the future include focus on non-social, intermediate housing and the continued large-scale voluntary transfer process accounting for the majority of growth in the sector.
Report
RSR Briefing paper 1: The Population of Registered Social Landlords, 1989-2005
A paper outlining the main changes in the numbers and types of RSL operating in England since 1989.
Report
RSR Briefing paper 2: Changes in RSL stock numbers and the flow of stock, 1989 to 2005.
A paper outlining the main changes in the numbers and types of RSL stock in England since 1989.
RSR Briefing paper 3: Vacancies and Lets in the RSL Sector, 1989-2005
A paper outlining the main changes in vacancies and lets in RSL stock in England since 1989.
RSR Briefing paper 4: Stock adaptations and dwellings provided for tenants with support needs
A paper outlining the main changes in RSL stock adaptations for older people and people with physical disabilities and in the numbers of dwellings provided for tenants with support needs in England since 1989.
RSR Briefing paper 5: Rents
A paper outlining the main changes in rents in RSL stock in England since 1989.
RSR Briefing paper 6: Shared Ownership
A paper outlining the main changes in shared ownership stock provided by RSLs in England since 1989.
RSR Briefing paper 7: The RSR Database (1989-2005)
A short technical paper about the setting up of the RSR Time Series database.