After section 36 of the 1985 Act there shall be inserted the following section—
(1)In accordance with the provisions of this section, the Corporation may issue guidance with respect to the management of housing accommodation by registered housing associations and, in considering under the preceding provisions of this Part whether action needs to be taken to secure the proper management of an association’s affairs or whether there has been mismanagement, the Corporation may have regard (among other matters) to the extent to which any such guidance is being or has been followed.
(2)Guidance issued under this section may make different provision in relation to different cases and, in particular, in relation to different areas, different descriptions of housing accommodation and different descriptions of registered housing associations.
(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (2), guidance issued under this section may relate to—
(a)the housing demands for which provision should be made and the means of meeting those demands;
(b)the allocation of housing accommodation between individuals;
(c)the terms of tenancies and the principles upon which the levels of rent should be determined;
(d)standards of maintenance and repair and the means of achieving these standards; and
(e)consultation and communication with tenants.
(4)Guidance issued under this section may be revised or withdrawn but, before issuing or revising any guidance under this section, the Corporation—
(a)shall consult such bodies appearing to it to be representative of housing associations as it considers appropriate; and
(b)shall submit a draft of the proposed guidance or, as the case may be, the proposed revision to the Secretary of State for his approval.
(5)If the Secretary of State gives his approval to a draft submitted to him under subsection (4)(b), the Corporation shall issue the guidance or, as the case may be, the revision concerned in such manner as the Corporation considers appropriate for bringing it to the notice of the housing associations concerned.”