Housing governance

With a proven track record across social housing groups of all sizes, the housing corporate and governance team at Penningtons Manches Cooper offers expert advice on mergers, group restructures and regulatory, charity law and governance issues alongside a comprehensive range of housing corporate services.

Whether you are looking to incorporate as a social housing provider or a long-established housing group, our team can help, delivering a seamless, solutions-focused approach. We advise on some of the largest and most innovative mergers the housing sector has seen and on numerous occasions act as joint legal advisers to both merging housing associations.

We provide a variety of general and bespoke training to boards and executive teams. Topics include duties and responsibilities, governance, charity law and regulation, legal compliance, corporate manslaughter, operating common boards and strategic projects. Alongside this, we offer strategic guidance and facilitate away days and business planning sessions.

Members of our team are specialists in charity law, co-operative and community benefit society law, company law and social housing regulation. This level of technical expertise ensures that our advice takes account of all legal factors relevant to your organisation.

We understand that good governance is the cornerstone of every strong operation and the subject of ongoing regulatory scrutiny. Recognising that each client is unique, we will work with you to deliver the most appropriate and practical governance framework for your organisation. We offer cost-effective proposals alongside tailored governance documentation including policies and procedures.

Our lawyers are well versed in corporate structures and have implemented first-of-their-kind arrangements. We advise on establishing new group structures for growth and diversification and consolidating existing structures for efficiency. Alongside this, we consider and advise on the optimal governance arrangements, including common and partially-common boards.

We have excellent connections with key intermediaries including the Regulator of Social Housing, the Charity Commission and the Financial Conduct Authority. Our breadth of expertise combined with our immersion in the sector mean that we can pro-actively keep you up to date with the latest developments in law, policy, strategy and best practice.