Why we are engaging with Ark Housing Association Ltd (Ark)
We are engaging with Ark because of its financial management and development plans.
Ark has plans to grow through a programme of new homes for social rent and will receive significant public subsidy to help achieve this. Ark has told us it needs to obtain new private finance during 2025/26 to support its development plans.
Ark will be required to absorb significant additional costs as a result of changes to employers’ national insurance contributions.
What Ark must do
Ark must:
- send us by 30 April 2025:
- an update on the borrowing requirement for 2025/26;
- its latest projected monthly cash flows for the 12 months to 31 March 2026;
- its approved business plan and updated risk register;
- 30 year financial projections consisting of statement of comprehensive income, statement of financial position and statement of cash flows complete with assumptions and explanatory narrative;
- a comparison of projected financial loan covenants against current covenant requirements;
- financial sensitivity analysis which considers the key risks, the mitigation strategies for these risks and a comparison of the resultant covenant calculations with the actual covenant requirements;
- report to the Board in respect of the approved 30 year projections, sensitivity analysis and covenant compliance; and
- evidence of how it demonstrates affordability for its tenants.
- send us an update on its development programme by 31 October 2025. This will include its latest report to the governing body/appropriate committee about development and details of the scale and tenure mix, timescales for delivery and any material delays or changes to the programme; and
- tell us if there are any material adverse changes to its development plans which might affect its financial position or reputation, in line with our notifiable events guidance.
What we will do
We will:
- review the cash flow projections and engage as necessary;
- review the business plan and financial information;
- meet with Ark’s senior staff to discuss the business plan, financial information and any risks to the organisation;
- review the development update and engage as necessary;
- seek assurance on the impact of the changes to employers’ national insurance contributions and engage as necessary; and
- update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with Ark.
Regulatory Returns
Ark must provide us with the following annual regulatory returns and alert us to notifiable events as appropriate:
- Annual Assurance Statement;
- audited financial statements and external auditor’s management letter;
- loan portfolio return;
- five year financial projections; and
- Annual Return on the Charter.
It should also notify us of any material changes to its Annual Assurance Statement, and any tenant and resident safety matter which has been reported to or is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive or reports from regulatory or statutory authorities or insurance providers, relating to safety concerns.