Registered Social Landlords: Private Enterprise [f]or Public Good?

Claire Howell

Lecturer, Aston Business School

jcls Vol 7 Issue 1 (April 2007)

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Abstract

Millions of homes previously owned by councils have been transferred to the ownership of Registered Social Landlords. Many of these are run as private companies under the principles first set out in the Combined Code of Corporate Governance. This article considers whether it is appropriate to apply both the principles of the Code and regulation from the Housing Corporation as forms of control over such companies and whether extensive government regulation negates the requirement for a board comprised of independent directors expected to make strategic decisions while over-seeing the executive. Conflict is created when trying to run these companies with a unitary board structure adhering to Combined Code principles while considering the wider interests of the community. It is questioned whether it is inefficient to try to meet these two objectives simultaneously and whether this system produces the best results for the community, the lenders, and the end users.

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