
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS 2022/23 

Rural Housing Association : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : 1 



Our Annual Report provides an overview of our work showcasing some of our achievements through the past year. We present this Annual Report together with our audited financial statements for 2022/23. 

## Contents 

- 4 Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report 6 Rural Housing at a Glance 8 Property Management Update 

- 10 

- 12 

   - Update on New Developments 2022/23 Housing Update 2022/23 

- 14 Customer Engagement and Communication 18 Summary of SMART Targets 19 Finance Report 20 Financial Statements 24 Board Attendance Details 25 Association Information 


Rural’s mission is to continue to provide good quality affordable homes in rural areas and to support this, the Association remains committed to delivering value for money for its customers through the provision of highquality services in an efficient and ef ective manner. 

If you, or someone you know would like this Annual Report in large print, in Braille or translated into another language please contact Stephen Fisher on 028 8224 6118 or email info@ruralhousing.co.uk 

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Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report 

1 

Rural Housing at a Glance 

Property Management Update Update on New Developments 2022/23 Housing Update 2022/23 

## Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report 

significant pressure on cashflows and budgets over the next year as well. 

the manpower and experience to develop, manage and maintain a high volume of new homes over the next few years. 


Our hybrid model of working for staff is now embedded in the organisation and we will need to carefully measure our performance to ensure customer service and internal processes continue to be of the highest standard. 

A big thank you to all the staff who cooperated with the reorganisation and made it a seamless process and many congratulations to those who have seen a promotion within the organisation. 

Our staff numbers now stand at 23. In April 2022 we One of our most important priorities is to were sorry to lose Fergal McKenna from our housing continually review our approach to tenant department. Fergal has been replaced by Ashling engagement and to ensure all our tenants have an Fuller in May 2022, whose unique experience active role in the decisions that affect them.  To this in housing will provide further expertise to the end, we continue to promote engagement and look department. We were also lucky to welcome Ailish forward to working with tenants across our schemes Armstrong to our housing department. Ailish comes in Northern Ireland. Included in this report are some with a wealth of experience from the NIHE and we examples of the work we have undertaken with our wish her well in her new role. tenants and their local communities in the past year. We are also very mindful of the cost-of-living crisis The Association’s activities are overseen by our and the increasing food and energy prices and we Board of Management which is made up of voluntary are fully committed to helping our tenants manage members. The Board who meets quarterly works to their way through these difficult times. We are ensure effective management of the Association pleased to report that the hardship fund and other and fulfilment of our mission ‘to enable people initiatives set up by the Association at the end of to thrive through the provision of high quality, last year has provided much needed respite for affordable homes”.  Both Ciaran McKenna (Past some of those who needed extra support. 

John Waddell, Chair Stephen Fisher, Chief Executive 

## WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022/23 

The Association’s activities are overseen by our Board of Management which is made up of voluntary members. The Board who meets quarterly works to ensure effective management of the Association and fulfilment of our mission ‘to enable people to thrive through the provision of high quality, affordable homes”.  Both Ciaran McKenna (Past Chair) and Neville Armstrong (Past Chair) retired from the Board in 2022 and we were all sorry to see them step down after nine years of their expertise on the Board and Committees. 

Just last year, we marked the 30th anniversary of the Association and reflected on the Association’s achievements over the years and its future plans. Our events showcased how the Association has played a key role in the provision of social housing and services in rural areas over this period of time. 

Every year we are subject to controls and checks. Our internal auditors provide assurance to the board and this year again all audits were passed with high grades. Our Departmental Sponsors, the Department for Communities (DfC) also graded us at the highest level (Grade 1), while our external auditors continue to provide assurance to the board on our financial and governance controls. 

Much has changed for the Association, its staff, and tenants over the last number of years and our Corporate Strategy, which was agreed in 2021, has helped pave our plans for the organisation going forward. As part of our strategic review in 2021, a full organisational review was carried out during 2022. That has brought about two new Committees under the Board, the Finance and General Purposes Committee and the Housing Services Committee. Both Committees have complemented the main Board, ensuring a strong oversight of both Finance and Housing related activities thus providing further assurance in all aspects of the operations of the Association. 

The financial statements reflect the financial performance and financial position of Rural Housing Association for the year ended 31 March 2023. I am pleased to report a strong financial position with continued growth and turnover now just under £4 million and a surplus for the year of £293,743, taking our total comprehensive income to over £1.2 million. The Association maintained its level of properties of 548 at the year end, bringing on 6 new units and selling 6 units through the House Sale Scheme.  There are approximately 10 House Sales currently in the scheme, however with a very healthy development programme (and the end of the House Sales Scheme in August 2022) we hope to see unprecedented increases in the numbers of our homes over the next 3 years and beyond. With excellent financial controls in place, we will see our balance sheet continue to improve. 

We also thank the many stakeholders without whom none of this would be possible. Our banks, Danske bank and AIB, our many consultants and external advisors, our response maintenance contractors, NICOR, all our design teams and development contractors who continue to provide us with the quality and workmanship that reflects highly on Rural Housing Association’s ethos. 

Further to these changes the organisation staffing structure was also fully reviewed by an external consultant. This review was designed to ensure the Association’s operational setup was fit for purpose for the coming years with an expected development programme of over 300 new homes. As a result of the review, four new departmental Directors have been put in place with Housing and the Technical departments seeing new posts created for middle managers, and the Business Development Department getting a new full time administrative post. These changes were all complete before March 2023 and we hope will provide the Association with 

We are sponsored by the Department for Communities who provide grant funding through their agents, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. We would like to thank both organisations for their continued commitment to the aims of Rural Housing Association and for sharing our unique vision. 

The last financial year has been challenging for us all with Covid, Brexit and the war in Ukraine continuing to create pressures to our business, suppliers, and funders.  A tougher economic climate, high inflation and business practises have converged into a business landscape which will continue to put 

Finally, we would like to thank you all our Board members and staff for their commitment, dedication and hard work through those years. 


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Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report Rural Housing at a Glance Property Management Update Update on New Developments 2022/23 Housing Update 2022/23 

2 Rural Housing at a Glance 


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NUMBER  GRANTS  NEW HOMES<br>OF HOMES RECEIVED (HAG) COMPLETED/<br>PURCHASED<br>548 March 2023  £2,003,535 March 2023<br>6 March 2023<br>548  March 2022  £4,130,569  March 2022<br>21  March 2022<br>528  March 2021 £1,624,319  March 2021<br>9   March 2021<br>NUMBER  DEVELOPMENT  NEW HOMES<br>OF STAFF SPEND ANTICIPATED<br>23 March 2023 £3,887,146 March 2023 43 March 2023<br>22  March 2022 £2,833,551  March 2022 50  March 2022<br>(19 ESP & 31 New Build)<br>21  March 2021 £1,716,817  March 2021<br>9  March 2021<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



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TURNOVER SURPLUS ON  HOMES SOLD<br>ORDINARY ACTIVITIES<br>£3,996,974 March 2023 BEFORE TAXATION 6 March 2023<br>£3,966,944  March 2022 £293,743 March 2023 1  March 2022<br>£3,743,173  March 2021 £577,752  March 2022 2  March 2021<br>£427,855  March 2021<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



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Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report Rural Housing at a Glance Property Management Update Update on New Developments 2022/23 Housing Update 2022/23 


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3 Property Management Update 

Rural Housing Association is committed to ensuring our Housing stock is well maintained for the needs of our tenants.. 

## PERFORMANCE 

Over the course of the year, we have continued our planned and cyclical maintenance programmes and detailed below is details of the financial investment made in helping to ensure our houses are in the best condition. We are plesed to report high tenant satisfaction levels in this area. 

Much of our planned maintenance work concentrates on the replacement of kitchens, bathrooms and windows when programmed. 


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Completion Times<br>RHA Performance<br>Expressed as %<br>Emergency Response Maintenance repairs  96%<br>Urgent Response 79%<br>Response Routine Repairs  84%<br>Gas Servicing  100%<br>Boiler Servicing 51%<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


EXPENDITURE FOR MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES 2022/23 

|Expenditure for Maintenance Programmes<br>2022/23|Actual Expenditure|
|---|---|
|Planned Maintenance|£118,235|
|Response Maintenance|£442,506|
|Cyclical|£166,451|
|**Total**|**£727,192**|
|||
|Tenant Satisfaction Survey||



The Association is currently compiling our Tenant Satisfaction Survey. 

## Adaptations 

Feedback from residents is valuable to us as it helps us to identify problems, improve services offered and get a better understanding of what our tenants want. The results of the Tenant Satisfaction Survey for 2023 will be reported in our Annual Tenant Newsletter due to be published in December 2023. 

During the year, we carried out 7 minor adaptations at a cost of £12,049.00 which were completed within target timescales. 100% of tenants reported that they were satisfied with the work and level of service from the Association. 

REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE PERFORMANCE 2022/23 - RESPONSE WORKS ORDERS AND % DELIVERED 


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Emergency Urgent Routine 1 Routine 2<br>(24 Hours) (4 Days) (10 Days) (20 Days)<br>Total number of  Total number of  Total number of  Total number of<br>Total Number of  Total Number of  Total Number of  Total Number of<br>Jobs completed  Jobs completed  Jobs completed  Jobs completed<br>Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs<br>within Target within Target within Target within Target<br>826 798 753 597 636 570 202 158<br>Target KPI completion expressed as %<br>96% 79% 90% 78%<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report Rural Housing at a Glance Property Management Update Update on New Developments 2022/23 Housing Update 2022/23 

Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report 

Rural Housing at a Glance 

Property Management Update 

Update on New Developments 2022/23 

Housing Update 2022/23 


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4 Update on New Developments 2022/23<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



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Doagh<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



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In March 2023, the Association completed a 6-unit scheme at Doagh providing much needed accommodation for local people in the area.  This scheme was designed by GM Design Associates and built by Hugh J O Boyle and reflects the principles of our Rural Design Guide, which aims to deliver social housing schemes, reflecting the rural character of local communities. 


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Doagh<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



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Randalstown<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Our Randalstown Scheme is complete. This scheme is located on the site of the ‘Old Bakery’, with architects GM Design Associates working hard to capture some of the design features of the original building in the architecture of the new scheme. Bell Contracts & Co Ltd, our contractors for the scheme, have brought this vision to life, in the development of a scheme that reflects the principles of our Rural Design Guide for Social Housing. This scheme will see the addition of nine much-needed homes to the town. We are looking forward to welcoming our new tenants in the coming weeks. This scheme was jointly funded through the Department for Communities & Dankse Bank. 

We are committed to building new modern affordable homes in communities where people are proud to live. Rural Housing has ambitious plans for 2023/24, as we build new homes in Lisnaskea, Rathlin, Cushendall, Sion Mills & Ballyholland. 

OUR STOCK - RURAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION STOCK TABLE AT 31/3/2023 


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Newry & Mourne Down 137<br>Mid Ulster 20<br>Mid & East Antrim 15<br>Lisburn & Castlereagh City 6<br>Fermanagh & Omagh 141<br>Derry City and Strabane 115<br>Causeway Coast & Glens  22<br>Belfast City 0<br>Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon 58<br>Ards & North Down 26<br>Antrim & Newtownabbey  8<br>0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


During the financial year 2022/23, Rural added to its stock profile and on 31st March 2023 we had 548 units of social housing units geographically spread throughout Northern Ireland as indicated in the table opposite. The Association sold 6 of its properties through the Right to Buy Scheme during the year. 


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Ahoghill<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



## RURAL HOUSING NEEDS TESTS 

This year Rural Housing Association hosted two Rural Housing Needs Tests in partnership with the Housing Executive. The areas covered in the tests included Clabby and Newtownbutler. The aim of these Rural Housing Need Tests is to identify where there is a hidden need for social or affordable housing in rural communities. 

## New Scheme at Ahoghill 

2022/23 saw the ongoing development of Rural Housing Association’s latest scheme in the village of Ahoghill, which includes the addition of twenty-six new social homes/apartments to the village. The scheme was brought forward as part of a Design and Build competitive tender, with architects Studiorogers and M J McBride being appointed as the contractor for the scheme. 

This new-build scheme, which has been designed, is part funded through the Department for Communities (HAG) and Dankse Bank. 


Other Significant D velopments Underway: 

CUSHENDALL (34 Units at Cusendall) 

We are delighted to announce we have been granted planning permission for 34 new homes in Cushendall. This scheme, designed by Studiorogers Architects, has also been selected as a Housing for All scheme, which will see additional funding for the delivery of good relations activities across the local area, We are looking forward to working with local residents and tenants over the coming years, to support ongoing community investment work in the Cushendall area. 

## RATHLIN 

Work is ongoing with our 10 new homes being built at Church Bay on Rathlin Island. 

## BALLYHOLLAND 

(14 Units at Harmony Heights, Ballyholland) 

## **Design & Build Schemes** 

## LISNASKEA 

(9 Units at Nuttfield Road, Lisnaskea) 

## SION MILLS 

(15 Units at Melmount Road, Sion Mills) 

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Introduction - Chair and Chief Executive Report Rural Housing at a Glance Property Management Update Update on New Developments 2022/23 Housing Update 2022/23 

5 Housing Update 2022/23 

## HOUSING ALLOCATIONS - GENERAL NEEDS ACCOMMODATION 

During the year, Rural Housing Association had 35 lettings (Combination of New lets and Re-lets). 

|Our Target: Allocate re-lets within 35 Days at year end|Our Target: Allocate re-lets within 35 Days at year end|Our Target: Allocate re-lets within 35 Days at year end|
|---|---|---|
|4.4.2022 to 31.3.2023|Re-let time<br>Not achieved|Our total void loss was £25,254<br>representing under 1% of our total<br>annual rental income.|



## INCOME MANAGEMENT 

We are mindful of the difficulties many of our tenants face given the current cost of living crisis and rising household costs. We are doing as much as we can to support those experiencing difficulties with financial hardship assistance, support and signposting to other services. 

We remain focussed on protecting our rental income and arrears have been carefully managed by engaging and supporting our tenants, sign posting them to Universal Credit for help with housing costs, and other financial supports available. 

Rent arrears remain steady with 82% of rental income coming through the Government welfare payments. 

We collected 99% of our rental income. As of 31st March 2023, the Technical Arrears figure stood at 4.53% which includes all outstanding UC and HB payments and the Non-Technical Arrears figure was reported at 7.52%. 


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Previous Year Results<br>Our Target Results for 2022/23<br>(2021/22)<br>Technical Arrears Achieve Current Tenant<br>4.53% 4.58%<br>arrear of 5% at year-end<br>Non-Technical Arrears Achieve Current Tenant<br>7.52% 5.39%<br>arrear of 5% at year-end<br>Reduce Past Tenant Arrears/Write-offs to < 2% 0.31% 1.37%<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


As of 31st March 2023, the Former Tenant Arrears figure stood at £7,374 (0.72% of rent receivable). 

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) can seriously affect the quality of life for tenants and their families and can have a negative impact on neighbourhoods and communities. We believe that our homes and estates should be places where people like living and feel safe. No one should feel intimated or harassed in the neighbourhood where they live. 

## RENTAL CHARGES 

The Association’s Housing Stock is funded by rental income. Earlier this year we wrote to all tenants to let them know about our proposed rent increase for 2023/24 and provided tenants with a rent consultation document outlining our proposed costs and proposed rent for the forthcoming year. 


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Average rents charged 2023<br>One bedroom £82.78<br>Two bedrooms £100.02<br>Three bedrooms £112.44<br>Four bedrooms £123.25<br>Five bedrooms £131.90<br>Average £107.69<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Tenants were advised that any comments made, or correspondence received regarding the proposed rent increase would be presented to our Board of Management who would consider this feedback prior to making the final decision on the proposal for the rental increase. Following the consultation process the Association increased its rents by 4.95% for the 2023/24 year. 

## COMPLAINTS ANALYSIS 

There were 17 formal complaints recorded relating to the level of service from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. All of these were resolved within target. 

There was a total of 158 Complaints recorded relating to Anti-Social Behaviour during this period and none of the complaints had escalated to the formal complaints process. Most AntiSocial Behaviour complaints were resolved either by telephoning the complainant and alleged offender or sending out warning letters as per our policies and procedures for dealing with AntiSocial Behaviour. 


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Tenant Engagement Activities Summary of SMART Targets Finance Update 

6 Tenant Engagement Activities 

## ENERGY HARDSHIP BOOKLET 

Rural Housing Association as part of the Northern Ireland Community Investment Network have produced a Cost-of-Living Guide for tenants. The guide provides a series of tips and advice for tenants on how they can save money within the home and reduce household bills. Copies of this Cost-of-Living are available by emailing: **info@ruralhousing.co.uk** 

One of our most important priorities is to continually review our approach to tenant engagement and to ensure all our tenants have an active role in the decisions that affect them.  To this end, we continue to promote engagement in many of our schemes and neighbourhoods and look forward to working with tenants across our schemes in Northern Ireland. 

**Below are some examples of the work we have undertaken with our tenants and their local communities in the past year.** 

## HOUSING FOR ALL / SHARED NEIGHBOURHOODS, SION MILLS 

Rural Housing Association continues to deliver our Housing for All (Shared Neighbourhoods) Programme in Old Mill Court, Sion Mills. Housing for All schemes receive funding from the Department for Communities and the Housing Executive to deliver a five-year good relations plan for each scheme. Over the last year, we have delivered a variety of good relations ’bridging’ projects aimed at building more connected and inclusive communities, including a series of heritage projects exploring the history of the dance halls and the Sion Mills railway, as well as arts-based projects working with seniors and young people in the Sion Mills area. 

## HOUSING FOR ALL SCHEMES / SION MILLS / CUSHENDALL 

Rural Housing Association is pleased to confirm we will be expanding our Housing for All, Shared Neighbourhoods programme, with a second Housing for All scheme scheduled for Sion Mills in Autumn 2023 and work commencing later this year, on the development of a new shared neighbourhood in Cushendall. 



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Tenant Engagement Activities 

Tenant Engagement Activities Summary of SMART Targets Finance Update 

Summary of SMART Targets 

Finance Update 

## IN CHARGE OF CHANGE PROJECT, CO. FERMANAGH 

Rural Housing Association received funding through the Public Health Agency’s Clear Project to deliver a health and wellbeing project in the Knocks/ Brookeborough area of County Fermanagh. The project was designed in partnership with our Tenant Board Representative and Tenant Panel Member, Margaret Rafferty and is an example of how Rural Housing Association’s tenants are bringing about positive change in their local areas. 

The In Charge of Change project addresses the topic of mental and emotional wellbeing through a series of facilitated workshops.  The project included support and advice for local women on topics such as positive mental health, coping with anxiety, dealing with the menopause and keeping healthy through exercise and diet, with sessions including yoga, cookery classes, mindfulness techniques and alternative therapies. 

## WOODVALE COMMUNITY GARDEN 

Rural Housing Association partnered with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) to create a community garden on an unused green space attached to our Woodvale Manor scheme in Eglinton. 

This community garden initiative was funded through the National Lottery’s Living Spaces and Places Fund. 

## CASHEL COMMUNITY GARDEN, 

## GARRISON 

Rural Housing Association are pleased to announce our Community Garden initiative will be extended to Cashel Crescent, Co Fermanagh this coming year, as we have been awarded additional funding through the Living Spaces and Places Fund. 

## CASHEL COMMUNITY GARDEN, GARRISON 

Rural Housing Association are pleased to announce our Community Garden initiative will be extended to Cashel Crescent, Co Fermanagh this coming year, as we have been awarded additional funding through the Living Spaces and Places Fund. 



## TRAMWAY TALES PROJECT 

Rural Housing Association’s Tramway Tales Project is an intergenerational project working with adults and children in Sion Mills, Victoria Bridge and Castlederg.  The project explores the heritage connected to the local area, helping increase participants’ knowledge and understanding of their own local history and how it connects these three rural communities. The project was funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and brings to life the story of the tramway, which connected the rural towns and villages of Castlederg, Spamount, Crew and Fyfin to Victoria Bridge. 


## AHOGHILL SCHOOL COMPETITION 

As part of our community engagement work, with our new scheme in the Ahoghill area, our contractors M J McBride and Rural Housing Association’s facilitated a school competition with Fourtowns Primary School to name the new scheme. The winner of the competition was announced at a special assembly on Friday the 7th October. The winning pupil pictured above was Jay Cameron, who chose the name Brook Court. 


## TENANT PARTICIPATION 

Rural Housing Association continues to host tenant panel meetings, both online and in-person.  This year Tenant Panel Members had the opportunity to participate in an autumn wreath making workshop with “Oh So Fabulous” as well as digital skills training with Ignite IT.  Alongside these skills development sessions Tenant Panel Members also worked alongside RHA staff to review and update our Tenant Participation Strategy and Tenant Action Plan for the forthcoming years. 



Thirty years on, we have remained true to the values of our founding members, continuing our mission to increase social housing supply across rural communities. We are particularly proud of our development programme, which through high quality housing schemes designed to reflect the character and heritage of rural communities, is helping retain the unique rural character of our small towns and villages, whilst addressing the need for increased social housing at a local level. 

RURAL HOUSING CELEBRATES 30 YEARS 

Rural Housing Association celebrated thirty years of service in 2022. On Monday 3rd October, we hosted a special celebration event at the Ulster American Folk Park, to mark the Association’s achievements over the last 30 years. 

The event was attended by tenants, local MLAs, councillors, and representatives from across the finance, housing, construction and community sector. 


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Customer Engagement and Communication Summary of SMART Targets Finance Update 

Customer Engagement and Communication Summary of SMART Targets Finance Update 

8 Summary of SMART Targets 


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Measurement Target Date Target Achieved<br>Surplus for Year Achieved<br>Mar - 2023 £250,093<br>The difference between income and expenditure for the year £293,743<br>30 days or within<br>Prompt Payment Days (normal) Mar - 2023 contract term if shorter Achieved<br>Prompt Payment Days (new build) Mar - 2023 14 days Achieved<br>Gearing Ratio Monthly <50% Achieved<br>Interest Cover Monthly >1.35 Achieved<br>Interest Cover Monthly <1.1 Achieved<br>Current Ratio Monthly 1.00 or higher 0.50<br>Non-Technical Arrears<br>Arrears owing directly from tenants as a % of rental income expected  Mar - 2023 5% 7.52%<br>directly from tenants<br>Technical Arrears Mar - 2023 5% 4.53%<br>Arrears Write-Offs<br>Mar - 2023 2% Achieved<br>Amount of arrears that are not collectable as a % of total rental income<br>Tenants 13 weeks in arrears Mar - 2023 3% Achieved<br>Past Tenant Arrears<br>Mar - 2023 2% Achieved<br>Arrears owing from ex-tenants as a % of total rental income<br>Maintenance Costs Monthly Budget -<br>Monthly Not Achieved<br>How much it costs the Association to maintain its properties from day to day 5%+5%<br>Repair Relet Costs<br>Monthly Budget -<br>How much it costs the Association to bring vacated properties back into  Monthly 5%+5% Not Achieved<br>lettable condition<br>Repair Relet Time<br>Mar - 2023 14 Days Not Achieved<br>How quickly the Association can get repairs done on a vacant property<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>



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Measurement Target Date Target Achieved<br>Allocation of Relets<br>Mar - 2022 35 Days Not Achieved<br>How quickly the Association can fill a vacant prope ty<br>Voids<br>Mar - 2022 2% Achieved<br>The cost of vacancies as a % of total rental income<br>Complaints<br>Mar - 2022 90% Achieved<br>Deal effectively with 90% complaints within time limits<br>Anti-Social Behaviour<br>Mar - 2022 90% Achieved<br>Deal effectively with 90% complaints within time limits<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## Finance Update 

For 2022/23 the Association continues to see modest growth of the development programme accompanied by consolidation of all aspects of the company’s business. 9 

## KEY HIGHLIGHTS 


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March 2023 March 2022 March 2021<br>Number of Homes 548 548 528<br>Number of Staff 23 22 21<br>Turnover £3,996,974 £3,966,944 3,743,173<br>Surplus £293,743 £577,752 427,855<br> Development Spend £3,887,146 £2,833,551 1,716,817<br> Grants Received £3,003,535 £4,130,569 1,624,319<br>New Homes  9<br>6 21<br>Completed/Purchased (6 ESPS & 3 New Build)<br>50  9<br> New Homes Anticipated 43<br>(19 ESP & 31 New Build) (6 ESPS & 3 New Build)<br> Homes Sold 6 1 2<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The Association’s Income & Expenditure Account confirmed an increase in turnover and a net surplus for the year of  £293,743 compared to £577,752 for the previous year, bringing its accumulated revenue reserves to £6,409,624. 

Tangible Fixed Assets (Housing Properties) reported at March 2023 were £52,734,929 compared to £49,582,461 for the previous year. During the financial year the Association added 6 additional units of accommodation. Operating costs increased by £236,252 (2022: £97,100) whilst the operating surplus increased to £1,021,312 (2022: £1,227,534). Turnover is reported at £3,996,974 compared to £3,966,944 for the previous year. The Association sold 6 property during the year. 

Details from our financial accounts for 2022/23 are provided on pages 19 to 21. 

## **National Housing Federation Code of Governance Compliance** 

- The adoption of the 2020 National Housing Federation Code of Governance (‘the Code’) was approved by the Board in April 2021 along with an action plan to address areas of non-compliance. 

- There were no actions identified to ensure compliance with the Code. 

- There are two areas of non-compliance with the Code identified but both were due to the Association rules which take precedent. 

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Statement of Comprehensive Income Statement of Cash Flows 

Statement of Comprehensive Income Statement of Cash Flows Statement of Financial Position Statement of Changes in Equity Board Attendance Details Association Information 

Statement of Financial Position Statement of Changes in Equity 

Board Attendance Details Association Information 

11 

10 

## Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Year ended 31 March 2023 

|||**2023**|**2022**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**||
|**Turnover**||3,996,974|3,966,944||
|Less operating costs||-2,975,662|-2,739,410||
||||||
|**Operating surplus**|2|1,021,312|1,227,534||
|Surplus on property disposals||493,355|73,180||
|Interest receivable|7|3,993|717||
|Interest payable and other charges|8|-712,562|-629,499||
|Financing (cost)/income|16|-19,000|-21,000||
|Transfer to disposal proceeds fund||-493,355|-73,180||
||||||
||||||
|**Surplus on ordinary activities before taxation**||293,743|577,752||
|Corporation tax on surplus|9|-|-||
||||||
||||||
|**Surplus for the year after taxation**||293,743|577,752||
|**Other comprehensive income**|||||
|Actuarial gain/(loss) on pension scheme|16|955,000|488,000||
|Prior year adjustment||-|-||
|**Total comprehensive income for the year**||1,248,743|1,065,752||



## Statement of Cash Flows for the Year ended 31 March 2023 

||||**2023**|**2022**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Note**|**£**|**£**||
||**Net cash flow from operating activities**|19|1,897,386|1,899,121||
||**Cash flow from investing activities**|||||
||Purchase of tangible fixed assets||-4,399,153|-5,341,957||
||Proceeds from sale of tangible fixed assets||719,845|69,150||
||Grants received||1,348,194|3,746,100||
||Interest received||3,993|717||
||||-2327121|-1,525,990||
||**Cash flow from financing activities**|||||
||Interest paid||-719,326|-628,744||
||New secured loans||8,139,000|1,000,000||
||Repayments of borrowings||-6,499,193|-740,615||
||Share capital||1|5||
||||920,482|-369,354||
||**Net change in cash and cash equivalents**||490,747|3,777||
||**Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April**||696,902|693,125||
||**Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March**|13|1,187,649|696,902||



## **Continuing operations** 

None of the Association’s activities were acquired or discontinued during the above two financial years. 

## **Historical cost** 

The difference between the results as disclosed in the Statement of Comprehensive Income before tax, and retained surplus for the year, on an unmodified historical cost basis is not material. 


20 : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : Rural Housing Association20 : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : Rural Housing Association 

**Rural Housing Association : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : 21** 



Statement of Comprehensive Income Statement of Cash Flows 

Statement of Comprehensive Income Statement of Cash Flows Statement of Financial Position Statement of Changes in Equity Board Attendance Details Association Information 

Statement of Financial Position Statement of Changes in Equity 

Board Attendance Details Association Information 

12 

13 

## Statement of Financial Position as at 31 March 2023 

|||||**2023**|**2022**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**Note**|**£**|**£**||
||**Tangible fixed assets**||||||
||Housing properties at cost||10a|52,734,290|49,582,461||
||Other fi ed assets||10b|869,371|896,155||
||||||||
||||||||
|||||53,603,661|50,478,816||
||**Current assets**||||||
||Debtors and prepayments||12|1,204,277|523,026||
||Cash and cash equivalents||13|1,187,649|696,902||
||||||||
||||||||
|||||2,391,926|1,219,928||
||**Creditors: amount falling due within**|**1 year**|14|-4,773,790|-4,531,780||
||Net current assets/(liabilities)|||-2,381,864|-3,311,852||
||||||||
||||||||
||**Total assets less current liabilities**|||51,221,797|47,166,764||
||**Creditors: amounts falling due after more**||15|44,810,173|41,229,883||
||**than 1 year)**||||||
||**Provision for liabilities and charges**||||||
||Pension liability||16|-2,000)|-776,000||
||**Total net assets**|||6,409,624|5,160,880||
||**Reserves**||||||
||Share capital||17|9|12||
||Capital reserves||18|34|30||
||Revenue reserves|||6,409,581|5,160,838||
||**Total Reserves**|||6,409,624|5,160,880||
||Approved by the Board of Management on 28 June 2023||||||
||Chairman|Honorary Secretary||Honorary Treasurer|||



## Statement of Changes in Equity for the Year ended 31 March 2023 

**Share Capital Capital Reserves Revenue Total Reserves £ £ £ £ At 1 April 2021** 8 29 4,095,086 4,095,123 - - Surplus/(deficit) for the year 577,752 577,752 - - Actuarial gain/(loss) on pension scheme 488,000 488,000 Share issue 5 - - 5 Share cancellation -1 1 - - **At 31 March 2022** 12 30 5,160,838 5,160,880 - - Surplus/(deficit) for the year 293,743 293,743 - - Actuarial gain/(loss) on pension scheme 955,000 955,000 Share issue 1 - - 1 Share cancellation -4 4 - - **At 31 March 2023** 9 34 6,409,581 6,409,624 


22 : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : Rural Housing Association22 : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : Rural Housing Association 

**Rural Housing Association : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : 23** 



Statement of Comprehensive Income Statement of Financial Position Statement of Cash Flows Board Attendance Details Association Information 

Statement of Comprehensive Income Statement of Financial Position Statement of Cash Flows Board Attendance Details Association Information 

15 Association Information 

14 Board Attendance Details 

|Name|Date joined|Length of<br>Service|Board Meetings|Board Meetings||Committee Meetings|Committee Meetings|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||Meetings Held|%  Attendance||Meetings Held|Attended|
|Alastair McKane|19/06/2015|7 years|7|71.00||6|5|
|Carol Follis|24/03/2015|8 years|7|100.00||4|4|
|Rory O'Brien|20/02/2014|9 years|7|14.00||4|2|
|Tommy Gallagher|15/11/2017|5 years|7|71.00||4|1|
|John Waddell|18/05/2016|6 years|7|100.00||N/A|N/A|
|Tom Potter|26/01/2022|1 year|7|100.00||5|6|
|Margaret Rafferty|26/01/2022|1 year|7|100.00||2|2|
|Michaela McCusker|26/01/2022|1 year|7|100.00||4|4|
|John Moss|01/03/2023|1 month|N/A|N/A||N/A|N/A|
|Neville Armstrong|09/01/2013|Retired 29th June 2022||||||
|Ciaran McKenna|12/09/2012|Retired 29th June 2022||||||
|Ryan Brady|26/01/2022|Retired 14 September 2022||||||
|Claire McKeefry|26/01/2022|Retired 25th Jan 2023||||||



## Remuneration of Board Members 

Rural Housing Association does not remunerate Board members and their time is given on a voluntary basis. Travel expenses are paid to members at the appropriate Rural Housing Association rate. Total expenses paid were: £443 (2022:-£0) 



**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Board of<br>Management<br>Audit, Risk and<br>Finance and GP Technical Governance Housing Services<br>Committee Committee Committee<br>Committee<br>Chief Executive<br>Stephen Fisher<br>Development &  Business  Housing and  Finance Director<br>Property Assets  Development  Operations<br>Director Director  Director Mary Frances<br>Paul Fox Ruth Buchanan Martina Cranny McCrystal<br>Maintenance<br>Housing Manager<br>Manager Valerie Pinkerton<br>Emma Forker<br>Technical Office Technical Office Technical Office Technical Office Housing Office Neighbourhood  Finance Office<br>(Planned) (Response) (Development) (Development) Rent Recovery Housing Office Carmel Mallon<br>Dayna Collins Alan Gibson Claire Coulter John McGinn Paula Rooney Orla Maguire<br>Technical Admin Technical Admin  Services Shared  Housing  Housing  Housing Advisor  Finance  Services Shared<br>Ryan Fox Brenda Gormley AdminstratorCharlene Brown AdvisorAisling Fuller ArmstrongAdvisorAilish  Wendy Rankin(P/T) McNelisAdminEdel  AdminstratorMcDaidLeanne<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## Board Members 

Margaret Rafferty Michaela McCusker Tom Potter John Moss 

John Waddell (Chair) Carol Follis (Vice Chair) Rory O’Brien (Secretary) Alistair McKane (Treasurer) Tommy Gallagher 

Registered Offi e Tollgate House, 2 Killyclogher Road, Omagh, BT79 0AX 

## Bankers 

Danske Bank, 5-7 Market Street, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 1BN AIB, 8 High Street, Omagh, County Tyrone BT78 1BH 

## Staff 

Chief Executive Housing and Operations Director Finance Director Business Development Director Housing Manager Maintenance Manager Technical Officer (Response) Technical Officer (Development) Technical Officer (Development) Technical Officer (Planned) Finance Officer 

Stephen Fisher, PGDip, MSc, CIHCM 

## Solicitors 

Martina Cranny BSc (Hons) PGDip, MBA, CIHCM Mary Frances McCrystal BSc(Hons), ACMA Ruth Buchanan BA (Hons) MSc Valerie Pinkerton BA (Hons) CIHCM PGDip Emma Forker BSc (Hons) Alan Gibson BSc (Hons) Claire Coulter BSc (Hons) John McGinn Dayna Collins Carmel Mallon BA (Hons) IATI Orla Maguire BSc (Hons) Paula Rooney BA (Hons) Aisling Fuller BSc (Hons) Ailish Armstrong Wendy Rankin BA (Hons) Charlene Brown BA (Hons) Leanne McDaid BA (Hons) PGDip Edel McNelis Brenda Gormley Ryan Fox BSc (Hons) 

McCaffrey & Co, 8-10 Church Hill, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 1DQ 

## External Auditors 

McAleer Jackson, Chartered Accountant & Registered Auditor, 24 Dublin Road, Omagh, BT78 1HE 

## Internal Auditors 

Wylie & Bisset, 168 Bath St, Glasgow G2 4TP 

## Registrations 

- Registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 on 2 March 1992. 

- •  Registered under the Housing (NI) Order 1981 on 19 March 1992, Registration No. R52 

- •  Registered under the Data Protection Act 1984, Registration No X3917434 •  Affiliated to the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations •  Registered as a Charity with Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 12 January 2015 Registration No. NIC100886 

Neighbourhood Housing Officer Housing Officer Rent Recovery Housing Advisor Housing Advisor Housing Advisor (P/T) Shared Services Adminstrator Shared Services Administrator (P/T) Finance Administrator Technical Administrator Technical Administrator 

- Accepted as a Charity by HM Revenue & Custom on 16 October 2009 

24 : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : Rural Housing Association24 : Annual Report & Accounts 2022-23 : Rural Housing Association 

25 




RHA: 2 Killyclogher Road, Omagh Co Tyrone, BT79 0AX Tel: 028 8224 6118 Facebook.com/ruralhousing E-mail:  info@ruralhousing.co.uk Web: www.ruralhousing.co.uk twitter.com/ruralhousingni 

