BSA 2011: Affordable housing undervalued

Speaking at the BSA Annual Conference in Birmingham, Sarah Woodall, head of housing services at West Midlands-based housing association Accord Group, said the shared ownership market in the West Midlands had suffered as a result.

She said: “Valuations have been a real issue for housing associations. Often housing association properties are superior to those in the main market because you get eco features, code for sustainable homes compliance, larger space standards, we have to comply with scheme development standards issued by our regulator.

“It’s a good product – what you might term a gold edged product. But when we are valued by mutuals for purchase those factors don’t seem to be taken into consideration. Our shared ownership market has suffered because of that.”

She urged the mutual sector to work with housing associations to rectify this situation.