This excellent article in The i brings to light an issue which has been long brewing; current law section 106 agreements oblige developers to sell a proportion of houses to registered providers of social housing (RPs), but most of those agreements do not determine the price nor the standard of the interior.  

Over many years, RPs have competed with each other to win those properties and as a result, some developers potentially see affordable housing as a way to earn profits, resulting in poor standards of construction and fit-out, and poor locations chosen for developments. 

The article however does not cover what is meant by ‘affordable housing’.  In the same way that the residential new build market is sluggish, in some parts of the country, so is the shared ownership market.  

I am sure many RPs would be happy to take on this housing if it was solely rented, the price was fair and affordable and reflects what they can afford to pay, rather than any rosy market assumptions, and reflecting the quality of the housing (inside and out) at handover.

Given the current residential property market many developers want to lead with selling their affordable housing which given the need is just great but developers need to work with registered providers (and their advisers!) to agree section 106 agreements which deliver what communities need, what tenants living in those properties deserve, and registered providers can afford.