Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the Housing Revenue Account reflects the potential benefits for the council’s own tenants.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is a ring-fenced accounting mechanism within the General Fund. The ring-fence ensures that the income from tenants’ rents is only spent on the upkeep and management of local authority tenants’ homes and protects them from funding services already paid for through Council Tax. The HRA can also contribute toward the building of new council housing.

Councils are responsible for meeting their statutory responsibilities as a landlord within their HRA.