The news of "record profits for housing associations" is good news for the sector as it aims to increase new development.  The vast majority of housing associations are charities, who re-invest their profits in communities - including through developing new homes.  As the country faces a housing crisis, those new homes are needed more than ever before.

The challenge for most housing associations lies in ensuring that services to tenants are not adversely affected by efficiency cuts - and this is a challenge that many housing associations are rising to admirably, through the use of digital solutions and other innovations.

UK housing associations rated by Moody’s made record operating profits in 2017, despite the introduction of a 1% annual social housing rent cut that will be in place until 2020.