ABOUT THE HOUSING CORPORATION

The Housing Corporation is a Non-Departmental Public Body, sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Its role is to fund and regulate housing associations in England.

The Corporation's role is to help build and maintain affordable housing, as a key part of the government's aim to create sustainable communities. It does this by:

• Shaping housing, community and regeneration policy nationally, regionally and locally;
• Administering and distributing public subsidy for affordable housing to maximise its benefit;
• Regulating housing associations to ensure the efforts of all regulators and inspectors combine to drive improvements in housing association productivity and performance.

The Corporation's staff are based at 9 offices throughout England.

A Board, appointed by the Secretary of State, governs the Corporation. The Board is chaired by Peter Dixon and the Chief Executive is Jon Rouse. Since its inception in 1964, the Corporation has invested some £20 billion of taxpayers? money in Housing Associations. The Corporation has a responsibility to ensure that this investment is safeguarded. It publishes clear performance standards, to which it expects Housing Association's to adhere and can take regulatory action if they fail to do so.

The Corporation publishes a wide range of booklets, including a number giving information about all aspects of social housing for tenants and prospective tenants. All of the Corporation's free publications can be downloaded from its website.

The Housing Corporation's website address is www.housingcorp.gov.uk.

Complaints

The Housing Corporation publishes a leaflet "How to make a complaint" which explains how you can complain to the Corporation about a housing association and what to do if you remain dissatisfied: Complaining about a Housing Association. You can also contact the Housing Ombudsman Service for further advice.

It also publishes a leaflet which explains how you can complain about the Housing Corporation itself: Complaining about the Housing Corporation. This leaflet explains the Corporation's 2 stage internal process. In the first instance complaints should raised with:

The Enquiries and Complaints Team
Housing Corporation
1 Park lane
Leeds LS3 1EP

Tel: 0845 230 7000
Fax: 0113 233 7101
Email: enquiries@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk