Geeta Nanda has warned that housing associations may not be able to fulfil their historic role of continuing to build homes even as the market halts in a recession.

The chief executive of Metropolitan Thames Valley, speaking at an event in London yesterday, warned that this time around associations may struggle to deliver.

Nanda, who also chairs the G15 group of associations, said: “There have always been times when the market dips, where we have actually increased the supply of rented homes.

“In my heart of hearts, I’m not sure whether there is going to be the ability to do that [this time], the capacity to do that, the will to do that or the money or resources to do that.”