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Two articles in your 11 July issue caught my eye – "Revealed: the shoddy state of housing repairs" (page 7) and "Sick as a budgie" (page 18). There is a clear connection: those with a poor maintenance record tend to receive most compensation claims. It's a vicious circle. The more claims, the higher the cost, direct and indirect, in the form of management time and insurance costs, and the less money there is for repairs.

As an insurance broker, we have seen a marked difference in the development of claims at housing associations whose managers have bought into the process of risk management and risk awareness, compared to those who have not. Liability insurance costs have trebled for many associations in the last three years and only those who act now can hope to contain or, hopefully, reduce these costs in future.

Finally, it is not true to say that little research has been carried out into compensation claims against housing associations. We have a wealth of data on claims made against associations and use this information daily in advising our clients.