Charity and regulatory compliance in the housing sector
We are the only housing sector law firm that also is a national, top-four charity law practice in its own right.
We provide advice and support to charitable housing providers on their compliance with charity law and regulation, and with the expectations of the social housing regulator. This includes training and development for boards and teams across a variety of topics, as well as specific, bespoke advice on individual areas of compliance.
Expert charity and regulatory compliance advice and support
Our specialists work closely to ensure our advice takes account of general charity law, as well as housing-specific regulation. We have strong and positive relationships with both the charity and social housing regulators, with many of our team members having worked for the Charity Commission and the social housing regulator, and vice-versa.
What makes us different is that we understand that charities are businesses first and foremost. While your aims and objectives are charitable and housing-focused, you need the ability to wear this regulation lightly, so it guides what you do and protects your charity assets, without becoming a straight-jacket.
Proof that we’re best placed to help you
We are:
- Ranked in the top five charities practices nationally:
– by the number of top 3000 charities we act for
– by the number of top 100 charities we act for
– by the independent directory Chambers & Partners - Ranked in the top five nationally by the independent directory Legal 500
- Top-ranked [in the West Midlands] by the independent directory Legal 500
- Shortlisted for the Best Charity Law Firm award in the 2016 Third Sector Awards.
The guidance and reassurance provided by Anthony Collins Solicitors for our board and executive team enabled us to make a confident decision about the creation of the cost-sharing group. Their input meant that, instead of taking a leap of faith, we could accurately gauge the potential benefits to our organisation, and more importantly, to our residents. The process was a commercial and legal minefield but thanks to Anthony Collins Solicitors support, we were able to negotiate everything smoothly and successfully and the expert knowledge they offered was far greater than anything that we could have garnered in-house.
Juliana Crowe, Housing and Communities Director, Rooftop Housing Group.
Provisions within the Housing and Planning Act that remove the need for housing associations (“HAs”) to obtain consent from the Regulator to dispose of social housing (as well as to merge or enter new group structures) come into force on 6 April.
Such freedoms will allow HAs greater flexibility over how they use their assets and, potentially, how they structure their businesses. Our expert panel gathered to discuss the possible opportunities the deregulatory measures offer, together with the likely hurdles. Read the outcome of their discussion here.
