Housing Associations Act 1985

Control of payments to members, etc.

13 Payments by way of gift, dividend or bonus

(1) A registered housing association shall not make a gift or pay a sum by way of dividend or bonus to—

(a) a person who is or has been a member of the association, or

(b) a person who is a member of the family of a person within paragraph (a), or

(c) a company of which a person within paragraph (a) or (b) is a director, or

(d) a Scottish firm of which a person within paragraph (a) or (b) is a member,

except as permitted by this section.

(2) The following are permitted—

(a) the payment of a sum which, in accordance with the rules of the association concerned, is paid as interest on capital lent to the association or subscribed by way of shares in the association ;

(b) the payment by a fully mutual housing association to a person who has ceased to be a member of the association, of a sum which is due to him either under his tenancy agreement with the association or under the terms of the agreement under which he became a member of the association.

(3) Where an association which is a society registered under the 1965 Act pays a sum or makes a gift in contravention of this section the association may recover tine sum or the value of the gift, and proceedings for its recovery shall be taken by the association if the Housing Corporation so directs.

14 Maximum amounts payable by way of fees, expenses, etc.

(1) The Housing Corporation may from time to time specify the maximum amounts which may be paid by a registered housing association which is a society registered under the 1965 Act—

(a) by way of fees or other remuneration, or by way of expenses, to a member of the association who is not a member of its committee or an officer or employee of the association,

(b) by way of expenses to a member of its committee (including a co-opted member) who is not an officer or employee of the association, or

(c) by way of expenses to an officer of the association who does not have a contract of employment with the association;

and different amounts may be so specified for different purposes.

(2) Where such an association makes a payment in excess of the specified maximum, the association may recover the excess and proceedings for its recovery shall be taken by the association if the Corporation so directs.

15 Payments and benefits to committee members, etc.

(1) A registered housing association which is a society registered under the 1965 Act shall not make a payment or grant a benefit to—

(a) a committee member (including a co-opted member), officer or employee of the association, or

(b) a person who at any time within the preceding twelve months has been a person within paragraph (a), or

(c) a close relative of a person within paragraph (a) or (b), or

(d) a business trading for profit of which a person falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is a principal proprietor or in the management of which such a person is directly concerned,

except as permitted by this section.

(2) The following are permitted—

(a) payments made or benefits granted to an officer or employee under his contract of employment with the association;

(b) the payment of expenses to a committee member (including a co-opted member) or to an officer of the association who does not have a contract of employment with the association;

(c) any such payment as may be made in accordance with section 13(2) (interest payable in accordance with the rules and certain sums payable by a fully mutual housing association to a person who has ceased to be a member);

(d) the grant or renewal of a tenancy by a co-operative housing association;

(e) where a tenancy of a house has been granted to, or to a close relative of, a person who later became a committee member (including a co-opted member), officer or employee, the grant to that tenant of a new tenancy, whether of the same or another house.

(3) Where an association pays a sum or grants a benefit in contravention of this section, the association may recover the sum or the value of the benefit, and proceedings for its recovery shall be taken by the association if the Housing Corporation so directs.