Reduce text sizeIncrease text sizeDefault coloursImproved contrastHigh contrastThe Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the national housing and regeneration agency for England.
The statutory objectives of the HCA, as listed in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 are to:
The HCA has the power to, “do anything it considers appropriate for the purposes of its objectives or for purposes incidental to those purposes”. We also have a wide range of specific powers relating to the provision, facilitation and acquisition (including compulsory purchase, regeneration, development of effective use of land) of housing and infrastructure; establishing companies; providing financial assistance; providing or facilitating services for communities; and undertaking advisory, training, research and information services.
The HCA cooperates with the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), the social housing regulator, regarding the provision of social housing. DCLG has confirmed that the TSA will be wound down and that the HCA will take on the economic regulation of social housing. Tenant issues will be addressed at a local level under a new system, but the Agency will engage tenant organisations in the delivery of its new regulatory function. We anticipate that the main changes will come into effect from 1 April 2012.
The HCA does have the power to acquire land and new rights compulsorily. This power is borne from the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965, which has been modified by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. One modification is that the HCA now falls within the definition of ‘statutory undertakers’. As before, any person who suffers loss is entitled to compensation. Compensation is to be determined in accordance with the Land Compensation Act 1961.
CPO schemes inherited from English Partnerships are listed within the HCA's Corporate Plan Annex 5. Additional schemes where the Board of the Homes and Communities Agency has resolved to use its CPO powers having had appropriate regard to the guidance in government Circular 04/2010 (Compulsory Purchase and The Crichel Down Rules).
The HCA was formed on 1 December 2008 through the transfer of the functions and assets of English Partnerships; the investment functions of the Housing Corporation; a number of delivery programmes from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the transfer of the Academy for Sustainable Communities.
To find out about the work and legacy programmes of the HCA's predecessor organisations, please visit the appropriate archived websites:
