NFA core values and services

NFA core values

Members of the NFA aspire to provide excellent, value for money and customer-led housing services for residents in partnership with their local councils.

Members will seek to develop innovation and continuous improvement in providing, managing and maintaining affordable homes in sustainable neighbourhoods. 

Members will be open and accountable organisations that actively promote equality and social cohesion.

Members will remain rooted in their local community and will work  in  partnership with others to help deliver locally determined priorities.

Members will share good practice and help support other members of the NFA.

NFA services

As the National Federation of ALMOs (NFA), we aim:

  • To promote the ALMO option
  • To assist existing and prospective ALMOs to operate effectively
  • To secure a long-term financial future for ALMOs
  • To persuade central government to take account of the interests of ALMOs and to establish a vibrant independent ALMO sector that will provide decent homes, raise standards across the public, rented housing sector, achieve excellence in service provision, promote tenant empowerment and help to deliver broader national and local policy priorities
  • To promote best practice in the sector.
 

The National Federation of ALMOs Ltd is the trade body representing 57 arms length management organisations (ALMOs). The NFA represents the interests of ALMOs at national level. In addition to lobbying and negotiating with central government on behalf of ALMOs the NFA runs a website, organises events and regional meetings for its members and provides advice and briefings. Affiliate membership is also available to other organisations that share the core values of the NFA. The aims and objectives of the NFA are set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
 
Although most ALMOs were set up initially to access decent homes funding the two most recently created ALMOs, Welwyn Hatfield Community Housing Trust and East Kent Housing, were established outside the ALMO funding regime, thus demonstrating the flexibility of the ALMO model in delivering tenant empowerment and locally focused services.
 
The NFA was established in 2003 when there were less than 20 ALMOs. After a widespread organisational and structural review the NFA AGM in April 2008 agreed a new constitutional framework and, in December 2008, the NFA became a limited company. The work of the NFA is overseen by a board of nine ALMOs elected by members across the four regions (Northern, Midlands, South West, London & Southern). Elections take place every two years.
 
The NFA does not employ staff directly but instead appoints a managing agent and in 2009, after a two stage EU procurement process, the NFA re-appointed HQN Ltd as managing agent for a period of three years, with an option for a further extension of one year. HQN is supported by The Public Affairs Company (PAC) and Acceleris Marketing Communications Ltd who are sub-contracted to deliver the parliamentary and communications part of the service. 

 Since it was established in 2003 the NFA has:

  • Established itself as the recognised trade body for all ALMOs
  • Successfully lobbied for additional rounds of ALMO funding (rounds 5 and 6), for £2.4bn decent homes funding in the spending review period 2008-2011 and for a further £1.6bn in the current spending period up to 2015
  • Successfully lobbied for the re-instatement of some decent homes funding for Round Six ALMOs whose funding was threatened in 2009 and 2010
  • Established that ALMOs have a long-term future after completion of the decent homes programme with the publication of the Communities and Local Government review of ALMOs in June 2006
  • Developed proposed alternatives to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy system that are now being implemented by the government under self-financing
  • Successfully lobbied for amendments to legislation, which enable ALMOs to apply directly for anti-social behaviour orders
  • Obtained amendments to the tax regime so that ALMOs do not have to pay Corporation Tax on services provided for councils
  • Secured amendments to legislation and policy to enable ALMOs to access Social Housing Grant and the Extra Care Housing Fund
  • Developed joint working and partnership arrangements with other housing agencies including joint work with local authorities and TMOs
  • Produced a series of reports on ALMO futures and good practice as well as regular updates and briefings on issues relevant to the sector
  • Established an All Party Parliamentary group for ALMOs and built up support for the ALMO movement across all political parties.