Raising standards in retirement housing

Code of practice

Code of practice image The Association of Retirement Housing Managers ( ARHM ), formally launched its new Code of Practice at a reception at the House Of Commons on the 8th of February 2006 by Baroness Greengross.

The Government has approved an updated version of the Code of Practice for private and leasehold retirement housing issued by the ARHM . The Code applies to the management of what is sometimes called leasehold sheltered housing or leasehold schemes for the elderly, terms which the ARHM believes are out of date. The Code is a really useful guide to managers but its real purpose is to offer protection to residents. The Code has a status similar to the Highway Code. It is not an offence in itself to ignore the Code but it can and will be used by residents in evidence at Leasehold Tribunals and when making complaints.

The ARHM will deal with complaints from residents about its members and the Code, and carries out compliance checks on its members. The Code contains an update of legal requirements for leasehold management and incorporates amendments to legislation made by the 2002 Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act.

In all it contains 126 legal requirements arising from 22 Acts of Parliament and 20 sets of regulations that managers of private retirement housing must follow. In addition there are a further 284 recommendations of good practice. The Housing Corporation recommends all housing associations follow the Code for the management of leasehold schemes for the elderly.

Dr Mike Biles, Housing Ombudsman, welcoming the Code said:

‘The ARHM must be congratulated on producing this excellent new Code of Practice and for securing Government endorsement of it. In the past my caseworkers have frequently used the ARHM Code which this one replaces as part of our investigations to measure good performance by housing managers. It is clearly set out, easy to read, and comprehensive in scope and I am in no doubt that it will be similarly valued and used as a practical, easily understood reference not only by my staff but by all the private retirement sector.’

In her forward to the Code Baroness Andrews, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, writes:

‘I should like to thank the ARHM for producing this revised Code, which like its predecessor, is destined to play a key role in improving management practices in the sector. I warmly commend it to all managers of retirement housing in the hope it will continue to be closely studied and followed.’

Copies of the code can be ordered price £5 plus p&p from the ARHM on 020 7463 0660 or e-mail ARHM Code of Practice or write to ARHM, Southbank House, Black Prince Road , London , SE1 7SJ.

The Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM) was founded in June 1991 and has developed an important role in the management of private retirement housing. The ARHM represents 59 organisations that between them manage some 96,000 out of the total 105,000 retirement properties in the UK.
Private retirement housing is leasehold residential property specifically designed and designated for sale to retired older people with a package of estate management services. Estates consist of grouped self-contained accommodation with an emergency alarm, usually with communal facilities and normally with a scheme manager. Retirement housing is often called private or leasehold sheltered housing.
The ARHM is the only body which jointly represents the private sector and those registered social landlords who provide leasehold retirement housing and as such it is widely consulted both by Government and other professional bodies. The ARHM has published over 20 good practice notes for members on aspects of the management of retirement schemes.
The code of practice is approved by the Government under S87 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. This section allows the Secretary of State to approve codes designed to promote desirable practices in relation to any matters concerned with the management of residential property.
This code was approved on the 29 th of November by statutory instrument: The Approval of Code of Management Practice (Private Retirement Housing) ( England ) Order 2005-SI 2005/3307. The Order will be laid before Parliament on 7 December 2005 and the coming into force date is 2 January 2006.
The previous version of the ARHM code was the first code of practice approved by the Government under the 1993 Act and was issued in 1996.