Three members have been appointed to the board of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), housing minister Grant Shapps has confirmed.

Deputy chairman of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) Julian Ashby has joined the HCA board alongside Dr Ann Limb and Keith House.

From April 2012 the committee will itself take over regulation of the social housing sector from TSA, subject to the passing of the localism Bill.  To provide continuity, Mr Ashby has been appointed, subject to scrutiny by the CLG select committee on 31 October, as the first chair of the regulatory committee.

Dr Limb brings industry experience from her time as chair of Milton Keynes Partnership and recent position as chair of the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership. 

Keith House is currently the leader of Eastleigh Borough Council as well as leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Hampshire County Council.