Four housing mutuals have been included in a list of the UK’s top ten social landlords.
Organised by 24housing magazine, an expert panel has catalogued the top 50 social landlords, with places one to 10 to be decided by an online public vote.
Mutual housing society Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has been included in the top 10 for the second time in three years, having been nominated by fellow mutuals Phoenix Community Housing in south-east London and Merthyr Valley Homes (MVH). Phoenix and MVH join RBH in the top 10, with Preston’s Community Gateway also making the cut.
Phoenix is London’s first resident-led and resident-owned housing association. Residents are the largest group on the board. Community work includes plans to restore a semi-derelict pub into a cinema and community venue, and help residents find employment through its Roots into Work programme.
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Merthyr Valley Homes became Wales’ first staff and tenant-owned co-operative housing association in May, and incorporates democratic and participative decision-making from the people who are affected by those decisions every day.
Community Gateway, based in Preston, was created in 2005 and was the country’s first Gateway model organisation.
“Our ethos brings colleagues and tenants together, where tenants lead and own the organisation working in partnership with CGA to deliver the quality homes and neighbourhoods they want,” said the association.
RBH, a pioneering tenant and employee mutual, was the first social housing provider in the country to be co-owned by tenants and employees and has introduced projects including Our Choice, where residents decide funding priorities; Young Voices, which supports youngsters in shaping the future of their communities; and Digital Champions, where people support fellow residents to get online.
Gareth Swarbrick, RBH chief executive, said: “I’m delighted that we have once again been named as a top 10 landlord by 24housing and it is really pleasing to see so many mutual housing societies represented.
“This is a great testament to the hard work and commitment displayed by RBH employees, members, representative body members and board members as well, of course, as RBH tenants who we are all here to serve.”
- The public vote is open until 17 June on the 24housing website.
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