FINANCE

Balancing Housing Revenue Account priorities

Councils face a very difficult balancing act in relation to their Housing Revenue Accounts and ultimately many will believe that ‘something has to give’, says Steve Partridge.

England's 160-plus local authority landlords have not exactly been short of challenges in recent years: the 1% annual rent reduction from 2016-2020, coupled with the struggle to grow new housing delivery capacity from a standing start, has caused many council leaders to revise their plans.

Despite this, Savills' annual analysis of Housing Revenue Accounts (HRAs) shows that English councils have been starting to invest – borrowing having risen each year since 2019 to £27 billion in 2022.

Popular articles by Steve Partridge

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING

Get unlimited access to The MJ with a subscription, plus a weekly copy of The MJ magazine sent directly to you door and inbox.

Subscribe

Full website content includes additional, exclusive commentary and analysis on the issues affecting local government.

Login

Already a subscriber?