This Housing Corporation Circular announces the issue of the General Consent 2003 incorporated in the attached booklet "Disposing of Land", which advises registered and unregistered housing associations on the requirements of Section 9 of the Housing Act 1996.

The booklet also includes guidance for other disposals of land not covered by the Act.

The new General Consent 2003 can be found in Appendix 3 of the 2003 edition of the booklet "Disposing of Land" (at page 13). This booklet is attached as a PDF file.

The 2003 edition of the Hacon 5, (used for disposals covered by the General Consent) which has been updated, is also attached as a PDF file.

The Form MML is also attached as a PDF file. This form is used for applications for consent where the Model Modular Lease has been used for the granting of a lease by one housing association to another. The Model Modular Lease is available from the Publications Unit of the Corporation (Tel: 020 7393 2228) at a cost of £50.00.

This Circular replaces HC Circular 32/96 and HC Circular 15/98 both of which are revoked from 1 April 2003.

Following consultation the Corporation has amended the General Consent 2003 to include sales under the Social HomeBuy (SHB) scheme. The consent has now been sealed and published, with effect from 1 May 2007. It means that, from that date, all SHB disposals are "covered" either by being exempt from the need for consent or by inclusion in Category 1(i) of the General Consent 2003.