The Voluntary Regulation Code

Background and Context

Voluntary housing bodies are responsible for providing and managing over 27,000 units, with the sector providing housing to diverse groups such as formerly homeless persons,  low income families, older people and people with disabilities. Organisations in the sector also vary greatly in size, ranging from Tier One Associations who are locally based and manage a small number of units, to Tier Three Associations who are responsible for over three hundred units.

The national Housing Policy Statement, published in June 2011, places the voluntary housing sector at the heart of the Government’s vision for future housing provision, and this puts an increased focus and responsibility on the sector to meet future housing demand. This will ensure that authorised housing bodies (AHB’s) will continue to work in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders to promote adequate housing supply.

In order to achieve this, a more coherent and streamlined approach to regulation is seen as a key factor in ensuring that voluntary housing bodies can access non-Exchequer funding in a competitive and cost-efficient manner. The role of private financial institutions is expected to become increasingly important to the sector given the continued pressure on traditional funding models.

Building for the Future: A Voluntary Regulation Code for Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland

Building for the Future: A Voluntary Regulation Code for Approved Housing Bodies in Ireland (the VRC) was launched in July 2013 by Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan T.D. and is a predecessor to a statutory regulatory framework for the non-profit housing sector in Ireland.

The VRC, developed by the Department of the Environment, Community and local Government (DECLG), sets out guiding principles that all AHBs should adhere to, including relating to governance structures, financial management and tenant services. It is designed to make AHB’s more transparent and accountable in their dealings with stakeholders such as tenants, government departments and financial institutions.

Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are being asked to comply with the VRC by signing the Charter of Commitments (“the charter”). Signing the charter means that AHB’s are demonstrating their commitment to the VRC on a voluntary basis, regulation and oversight, in advance of a statutory regulatory framework. While the VRC is voluntary, it is envisaged that sign-up will be required where a body is seeking to access development funding from the DECLG, or where a new body forms and seeks approved status.

You can access a copy of the Code here.

Finally, you can access a copy of the ICSH submission made during the consultation period for the code here.