What is the Homes England IMS?
The Investment Management System (IMS) is the digital platform used by Homes England to manage funding applications, contracts and development progress for the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) and other initiatives. Whether you’re a housing association, local authority or development partner, understanding and using IMS correctly is essential to unlock grant funding and manage your delivery pipeline.
We support clients to register, access and use IMS properly, ensuring their bids meet the technical, financial and policy requirements Homes England expects.
IMS stands for Investment Management System. It’s the online system that Registered Providers and other Homes England partners use to submit and track funding bids, manage schemes, and report on milestones.
It supports all stages of AHP engagement - from applying for grant funding, to scheme setup, contract variations, and payment claims. It’s the formal system of record for grant-funded housing schemes.
What Can You Do in IMS?
Once registered, users can:
- Submit bids through Continuous Market Engagement and enter scheme details
- View programme allocations and update forecasts
- Upload supporting documents
- Request contract variations
- Submit payment claims based on milestones
Accessing IMS and Registering Correctly
To access IMS, your organisation must be registered with Homes England as an Investment Partner and you’ll need to complete a registration form for individual access. Once set up, IMS is accessed via a secure Citrix login environment.
Homes England provides detailed guidance on how to install and connect securely. If your organisation is new to the process, it’s worth ensuring your IT setup and permissions are configured early.
Login to IMS: Homes England IMS Portal
Example IMS Use Case: CME Application Journey
Stage | Action Required | IMS Use |
Site identified | Secure ownership or control | Engage with Homes England to ensure scheme on their pipeline of upcoming sites |
Planning in progress | Pre-application discussion with LA | Continue to update Homes England contact of progress |
CME bid submitted | Detailed scheme specification, costs and justification for funding | Upload bid through IMS |
Assessment & offer | Await grant decision | View status in real-time |
Start on site | Funding milestone | Submit claim within IMS |
Practical completion | Delivery evidence | Final grant claim and closeout |
Homes England expects accurate and timely reporting in IMS - incorrect data or missed milestones can affect future grant payments or partner status.
Common Challenges and How We Help
We can support providers with issues such as:
- Applying to become an Investment Partner
- First-time registration and Citrix configuration
- Structuring bid submissions to meet policy aims
- Managing programme adjustments or variations in IMS
- Ensuring audit-readiness and compliance with funding agreements
Our housing consultancy team works directly with clients to reduce delays and align projects with Homes England’s expectations. We don’t just enter data - we help you interpret the guidance, avoid red flags and present your scheme clearly.
Supporting Better Housing Delivery
IMS is just one part of a wider funding and delivery ecosystem. Our social housing consultancy team helps clients secure funding and deliver homes with confidence.
Our services include bid development, financial modelling, strategic housing delivery advice, and technical assistance with IMS.
If you’re preparing a new scheme or need support to manage your AHP portfolio, we can help. Get in touch with our housing consultancy team.
