The National Housing Federation is to publish a new book, Excellence in standards of conduct, which aims to support housing associations in maintaining excellent standards of conduct in everything they do.

The book sets out a comprehensive framework covering all aspects of an association's business, and requires all associations to demonstrate their commitment to excellent standards of conduct by laying down clear expectations for staff and board members.

The new book is designed to be used alongside the two codes published last year by the Federation – Excellence in governance and Excellence in service delivery and accountability.

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For many years, the regulation of business probity in housing associations has been addressed through successive Housing Acts, which have laid down a series of increasingly complex provisions and entrusted their enforcement to the Housing Corporation, and then the Tenant Services Authority, as statutory regulator.

But as the sector has grown and evolved, it has became increasingly clear that the statutory approach has imposed sweeping restrictions that have often operated to restrict normal business practices, while at the same time overlooking some key issues of probity and reputation.

Federation Chief Executive David Orr said: "The publication of this book is a massive step forward in the understanding of standards of conduct required by housing associations to ensure the upholding of their probity and reputation.

"I am sure that it will go on to provide an invaluable framework for the business of housing associations for many years to come."

(CD/BMcC)