Social hearts, business heads: new thinking on VFM

Published by Georgina Pickerill for HouseMark Ltd in Housing and also in Central Government, Local Government

With the country facing a housing crisis, customers facing unprecedented pressures on their finances and a government focused on getting more for less, achieving value for money has never been more important for housing associations.

That is why HouseMark has teamed up with the National Housing Federation (NHF) to develop a comprehensive new approach to value for money (VFM) that goes beyond the narrow requirements of the regulator to offer the sector an approach that will help boards and senior managers run effective, efficient and tightly focussed social businesses.

'Social hearts, business heads: new thinking on VFM for housing associations' draws heavily on the ideas and experiences of a diverse group of housing association chief executives who shared their thoughts and experience about what VFM means for them and the businesses they lead. It also includes an expert view from Savills on how associations should measure and deliver VFM from their asset base.

NHF Chief Executive David Orr said:

"It is of critical importance for housing associations to extract every last ounce of value from whatever resources the sector can command. As boards and senior managers strive to balance the crucial factors of cost and social benefit, the guide addresses the decisions they face and sets out possible approaches and key questions."

The report is now available to download for free from the HouseMark website.

The report is formally launched by HouseMark Chief Executive Ross Fraser at a session on 'Value for Money – is delivering more for less really achievable?' at the NHF Annual Conference in Birmingham on Tuesday 18 September at 1.30pm.

It will also be the topic for discussion at a free workshop being held within the NHF's Social Housing Exhibition at the ICC in Birmingham, also on 18 September at 11.00am. 

Printed copies of the report will be available at the launch and throughout the NHF conference from the HouseMark stand A23.

To keep up to date with the latest thinking from HouseMark on VFM, visit and sign up for our new blog, Total VFM (www.totalvfm.co.uk).