Ever since MPs were caught claiming money for duck houses, dodgy DVDs and second homes they didn't need, transparency has been the watchword of the day in government. Last month, housing minister Grant Shapps called on housing associations to throw open their books for inspection by residents and the general public - otherwise they might be forced to do so using Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation.
During a press briefing prior to his question-and-answer session at the Chartered Institute of Housing's annual conference, Shapps made it clear that he wasn't only looking to catch out associations that pay their chief executives too much.
He wants residents to keep an eye on all major expenditure, as a way of controlling what is spent. If there was dissent from residents over the sums associations plan to spend on schemes or projects, he argued, then suddenly they not seem quite so important.
It is hard to argue against transparency. Earlier this year, the Home Group became the first association to publish details of all expenditure over £500 and others may well follow suit. But is the government really right to threaten associations with FOI legislation if they refuse to comply?
Yes, associations do receive public money to help fund housing developments, but these sums are dwindling as the government prepares to fund affordable house building through higher rents and increased borrowing (by associations). By agreeing to charge higher rents for new homes and a proportion of re-lets, associations are in some ways moving closer to the position of private landlords.
Basically, the government can't have it both ways. If housing associations are required to pay greater heed to the market when it comes to letting homes and raising money from the money markets, they can't really be expected to comply with FOI rules in the same way as public sector bodies.
On the other hand, they will find it increasingly difficult to avoid greater transparency on a voluntary basis, which is what Grant Shapps probably had in mind when he made his proposal.
