A report commissioned by the Housing Corporation exploring the costs to housing associations of compliance with its regulations has concluded that regulation in fact has a positive net benefit on the sector – estimated at £175 million over a five year period. The report, Exploring the Costs and Benefits of Regulatory Compliance, was commissioned by the Corporation as part of its drive to improve its regulatory methods. It provides an initial indication of the costs of complying with various elements of regulation, as well as a cost model, which the Corporation now aims to use for further research. Bob Dinwiddy, assistant chief executive – regulation, said: “The results of this study will feed into our work to review the burden of regulation and help us to implement our more rigorous risk-based approach to regulation.” The HBF is also conducting its own reseach into the growing cost burden of regulatory compliance, particularly with regard to Building Regulation changes over the past five years.