As the Procurement Act 2023 (the Act) goes live this week, it is worth pausing and considering its potential impact on the housing sector.

Often seen as a cost or an overhead to a housing association or council, with the procurement process itself regarded as a barrier to a commercial outcome (at best) or common sense (at worst), procurement has been very much maligned since housing associations were confirmed to be subject to its rules, way back in September 2004.

In fact, despite the overwhelming professionalisation of the procurement role in housing and numerous examples of value for money/best in class results for the sector, there remain many who refuse to embrace change and spend an inordinate amount of time, effort and money on avoiding the rules.