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Policy & Influencing

In summary

Our policy and influencing work supports housing associations to be brilliant and to deliver their vision of a Wales where good housing is a basic right for all.

Housing associations in Wales exist to provide good quality, affordable homes in communities across Wales. Our members deliver far more than bricks and mortar alone, working with communities and partners to increase their collective impact.

We work with our members and partners to help shape national policy to create an environment in which housing associations can deliver their social purpose.

You can find out more about our work in each of these priority areas below.

Here you can find out more about our impact and our Corporate Plan for 2023/24 - 2026/27.

Full summary

  • 18 October 2026

    Rent & Affordability

    Housing associations are committed to setting rents and services charges that are affordable for tenants. They do detailed work each year to understand affordability for their tenants, including gathering data and speaking directly with tenants. They also need to understand the costs set out in their business plans, which include managing, maintaining and improving existing homes and services, as well as developing much needed new homes.
    Rent & Affordability

  • 18 October 2026

    Cost of Living

    We are closely monitoring the ongoing impact of the cost of living crisis on social housing tenants across Wales.
    Cost of Living

  • 18 October 2026

    Decarbonisation

    Welsh homes account for approximately 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Wales.
    Decarbonisation

  • 18 October 2026

    Housing Quality and Hazards

    Housing associations are committed to maintaining safe, good-quality homes. They operate within clear legal and regulatory frameworks and are committed to making hazards safe and delivering repairs as quickly as possible.
    Housing Quality and Hazards

  • 18 October 2026

    Health, Care and Support

    A good quality home improves people’s health. We know poor housing currently costs the NHS in Wales £95 million a year in treatment costs, and that investment in warm, safe homes reduces this cost to individuals and the public purse substantially.
    Health, Care and Support

  • 18 October 2026

    Homelessness and Housing Management

    Homelessness can have a devastating impact on people and families. The mean age at death of people experiencing homelessness is 44 years for men and 42 years for women. We know that a third of homelessness is caused by a health issue and as a result, homelessness must be viewed as a combined public health and housing crisis.
    Homelessness and Housing Management

  • 18 October 2026

    Regulation and Governance

    Housing associations in Wales are regulated by the social housing regulator within Welsh Government to ensure that they provide good quality homes and services.
    Regulation and Governance

  • 18 October 2026

    Impact & Value for Money

    Evidencing the impact of the work that housing associations do to provide value for money is an important area of our work.
    Impact & Value for Money

  • 18 October 2026

    Housing supply

    Housing association’s play a key role in increasing the availability of affordable housing in Wales. They do this by not only building new homes to a high quality and low carbon standard, but also by bringing additional affordable homes to people in Wales through acquisition and remodelling.
    Housing supply

  • 18 October 2026

    Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016

    The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 is due to undergo implementation, or commencement, on 15 July 2022. Once commenced, the majority of residential tenancies in Wales will convert to new occupation contracts, including the vast majority of those currently held by housing association tenants.
    Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016

  • 18 October 2026

    Safety

    The safety of tenants is paramount to housing associations who work tirelessly to uphold the highest possible standards. In 2020 we published ‘Safety First in Housing’ in partnership with the Welsh Government, a framework supporting housing associations to achieve and maintain a transparent approach to health and safety matters.
    Safety

  • 18 October 2026

    Welfare

    In Wales, 23% of the population live in relative income poverty. Recent research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that over 90% of people on Universal Credit were living without essentials.
    Welfare

  • 18 October 2026

    In-depth briefing papers

    In-depth briefing papers for members will be published on this page for all major events and announcements which impact on our members.
    In-depth briefing papers