55-783: Clarion Housing Group is the largest housing association in the United Kingdom with 125,000 properties across more than 170 local authorities. Clarion Provides a home to over 350,000 people. Clarion is based in Southwark and was formed in 2016 as a merger of Affinity Sutton and Circle Housing Group. Clarion Housing Group comprises the Group's housing association and sole landlord, Clarion Housing, charitable foundation, Clarion Futures, and private development company, Latimer. Clarion's single housing association Clarion Housing launched in January 2018. It
110-460: A housing association , Affinity Sutton built and managed a range of homes for people with a variety of needs and budgets. As well as owning and managing properties, Affinity Sutton delivered a number of community focused services in the areas that they work. On 30 November 2016, Affinity Sutton merged with Circle Housing to form Clarion Housing Group and become the UK's largest housing association. They used
165-447: A 95% mortgage deal for customers looking to buy their home through shared ownership. Affinity Sutton also offer an Equity loan to help towards home ownership. To fund their social housing, Affinity Sutton developed a limited number of properties for open market sale – either in partnership with another developer or on their own account. Affinity Sutton funded its activities through both private funding vehicles and Government grants. As
220-613: A landlord shall: If a landlord refuses to repair a rented property, the tenant can take action to require them to carry out necessary works and claim compensation. There are four industry bodies representing housing associations working in the UK, each covering a respective country. They are: The NHF (formerly the National Federation of Housing Associations) claimed that at the start of 2003 they had around 1,400 non-profit housing organisations in their membership, owning or managing approximately 1.8 million homes across England. In
275-433: A large discount. This, combined with cost-cutting initiatives in local government and a housing benefit scheme that was more generous to housing associations than local authorities, led to many councils transferring their housing stock to housing associations. These organisations are often referred to as large-scale voluntary transfer organisations or local housing companies. The Housing Acts of 1985 and 1988 facilitated
330-561: A new government policy of "affordable rents" for its 2011–15 funding round, requiring associations to set rents at up to 80% of market rents so that less up-front capital subsidy would be required. In September 2013, a group of London boroughs initiated a judicial review to challenge this policy. A landlord's obligations are set out in several pieces of legislation, including the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 , which applies to tenancies entered into after 1961. In summary, section 11 provides that
385-407: A private, non-profit distributing housing association, it reinvests its surplus into building new homes and supporting the communities in which its residents live. It borrowed £250 million through a bond issue in 2008, which at the time was the largest own-name bond issue by a housing association, and the first AA-rated bond from the sector. A second £250 million bond was issued in 2012 at
440-521: A result could be subject to judicial review in certain circumstances. The court stated that the housing association sector was 'permeated by state control and influence with a view to meeting the government's aims for affordable housing, and in which RSLs work side by side with, and can in a very real sense be said to take the place of, local authorities'. This issue had wider political significance since housing associations' borrowing (which stood at approximately £30 billion in 2006) does not contribute to
495-710: A three-year stint, was confirmed as chair for a further two years in October 2023. Walkley stepped down as CEO in January 2021, and was succeeded by Peter Denton in August 2021. In March 2021, Homes England began a six-year, 1,800 home Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Research Commission, aiming to improve construction productivity and encourage the uptake of MMC in housing delivery. In its second five-year strategy, published in May 2023, it committed to further support for MMC initiatives. In November 2019, Homes England had invested £30M into
550-405: A wide range of housing, some managing large estates of housing for families, while the smallest may perhaps manage a single scheme of housing for older people. Much of the supported accommodation in the UK is also provided by housing associations, with specialist projects for people with mental health issues or learning disabilities , with substance misuse problems ( alcohol or illegal drugs ),
605-399: Is for working people, with prices at up to 80% of what might be paid in the private rental sector. Affinity Sutton also provided a number of routes that aim to make home ownership more accessible. Shared ownership , also called part buy part rent, is designed for those that cannot afford to buy a home with a mortgage outright. In 2010, in partnership with Santander , Affinity Sutton launched
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#1732859242640660-431: Is responsible for services to all of the Group's residents, replacing the 10 housing associations that previously existed. Clarion experienced system issues on 20 June 2022, Clarion confirmed this as a Cyber Attack on their Facebook page on 23 June 2022. Informing tenants to only contact them in an emergency and that emails cannot be responded to, they are however checking Facebook messages and direct messages on Twitter. It
715-586: Is subject to the Regulator of Social Housing's regulatory regime. The Regulator of Social Housing sets standards that social landlords are expected to meet. The Regulator focuses on economic regulation and will expect landlords to meet expectations on governance, financial viability, rent setting and value for money. Affinity Sutton was one of the largest providers of affordable housing in England managing over 58,000 homes and properties in over 120 local authorities . As
770-840: Is the technical name for social landlords that in England were formerly registered with the Housing Corporation , or in Wales with the Welsh Government. From 2010 to 2012, associations were termed registered providers under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 , irrespective of status (private, public, for-profit or not-for-profit). As of 2012 , the terms registered social landlord and private registered providers of social housing are both used as alternative names for housing association. Housing associations are generally considered as private entities in that they are not owned or directly controlled by
825-642: Is to be measured and over what timescale". In late March 2024, housing minister Lee Rowley told the Lords Committee that the government would be reviewing its MMC policies in light of the crisis in the volumetric house-building sector. He promised "a full update in late spring once we have undertaken further detailed work with the sector". In 2020, the pilot sale of microplots was compared to driveway ransoms when Homes England wrote to householders in Birmingham warning that Homes England owned microplots between
880-442: Is unclear whether there has been a data breach of tenants information, which would potentially include addresses, full names, contact information and bank details. Latimer is Clarion Housing Group's private development company – delivering and marketing homes for private sale and leading on land acquisition. Revenues generated fund Clarion's affordable rent and sale programme. As a non-profit distributing housing association, Clarion
935-447: Is used to maintain existing housing and to help finance new homes and it cannot be used for personal benefit of directors or shareholders. Although independent, they are regulated by the state and commonly receive public funding . They are now the United Kingdom's major providers of new housing for rent , while many also run shared ownership schemes to help those who cannot afford to buy a home outright. Housing associations provide
990-624: The COVID-19 pandemic for its failure, with the enterprise incurring total losses over seven years of £295M. In November 2023, Homes England loaned £15M to TopHat, another loss-making MMC housebuilder, to fund construction of a factory in Corby ; in March 2024, the factory's opening was postponed. In January 2024, following the collapse of Ilke Homes and several other MMC companies (including L&G Modular Homes and House by Urban Splash ) during 2022 and 2023,
1045-653: The House of Lords Built Environment Committee highlighted that the UK Government needed to be more coherent in addressing barriers affecting adoption of MMC: "If the Government wants the sector to be a success, it needs to take a step back, acquire a better understanding of how it works and the help that it needs, set achievable goals and develop a coherent strategy." Millions of pounds of public money had been invested, but "Homes England has not given any clear metrics as to how success
1100-531: The Housing Act 1988 , the proportion of the cost of new homes met by capital grants was scaled back by the government, so borrowing became the primary source of funding for investment. Much of this was simply borrowed from banks and building societies , but after the 2007–2008 financial crisis , these institutions ceased to offer long-term loans, so developing associations are increasingly turning to corporate bonds to raise funds for expansion. The HCA implemented
1155-659: The Ilke Homes modular homes business; it invested a further £30M in September 2021. Despite a further fund-raising round, raising £100M in December 2022, Ilke Homes went into administration on 30 June 2023, with most of the company's 1,150 staff made redundant, and creditors owed £320M, including £68M owed to Homes England. Eventually, Homes England would get back just £5M of its 2019 loan to company. L&G Modular Homes halted production in May 2023, blaming planning delays and
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#17328592426401210-697: The Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes . They increased in importance over the last decades of the twentieth century due to changes to council housing brought in by the Thatcher government, when rules were introduced that prevented councils subsidising their housing from local taxes, channelled grants for construction of new social housing to housing associations and allowed council tenants to buy their homes at
1265-548: The 2000s, some larger associations formed regional groups for purposes including lobbying government bodies. The G15 group of London's largest associations was followed by East Seven in East Anglia. Homes and Communities Agency Homes England is the non-departmental public body that funds new affordable housing in England. It was founded on 1 January 2018 to replace the Homes and Communities Agency ( HCA ). HCA in turn
1320-493: The 2010 general election. In June 2010, he said that the HCA would be retained but become "smaller, more strategic - with the HCA's functions being delivered under local leadership." In September 2010, the HCA was also included on a list of organisations being considered for closure. However, Shapps announced in October that the TSA would be merged into the HCA. In November, he confirmed that
1375-571: The HCA would be retained, but reformed to cut running costs. The HCA's Kickstart programme provided grants to developers in order to rescue stalled projects during the Great Recession , helping to maintain employment and output of new homes. One notable Kickstart projects was a £45.6 million investment in Berkeley Homes to provide 555 new homes for rent on the open market, located in London,
1430-650: The Homes and Communities Agency. The chief executive for the body was announced as Bob Kerslake in December 2007. Kerslake had led the regeneration of Sheffield as chief executive of the City Council since 1997. On 17 October 2008, the Housing Minister Iain Wright announced the Board members of the HCA including Robert Napier (chair), Kate Barker , Candy Atherton , and Shaukat Moledina (previously vice-chair of
1485-475: The Housing Corporation). Kerslake was appointed as a permanent secretary at the agency's parent Department for Communities and Local Government in September 2010. The HCA announced that it would appoint an interim chief executive from existing staff. Housing minister Grant Shapps announced early on that the TSA would be abolished as part of the cull of quangos by the coalition government after
1540-509: The UK's public sector borrowing requirement, the control of which is both a stated government objective and part of the EU's criteria for membership of the European single currency. A feature of housing associations is that, although the larger housing associations usually have paid staff, a committee or board of management made up of volunteers, or paid non-executive members, has overall responsibility for
1595-546: The UK, and employs over 2,200 staff. The Circle Housing Group has 12 partners. Nine registered providers (RPs): South Anglia Housing, Wherry Housing Association, Old Ford Housing Association, Circle 33, Merton Priory Homes, Mole Valley Housing Association, Mercian Housing Association, Roddons Housing Association and Russet Homes; as well as Circle Living for sales and marketing and management of shared ownership, market rent and private sale properties. It has two care and support partners – Circle Support and INVICTA Telecare – one of
1650-455: The behaviour of the new parent company in removing the association's chief executive. In 2009, Affinity Sutton celebrated 100 years since their first housing project in Bethnal Green. In 2011, William Sutton Homes, Downland and Broomleigh amalgamated to form Affinity Sutton Homes. In 2014, Aashyana transferred its engagements to Affinity Sutton Homes. Circle Housing Group (or Circle )
1705-553: The credit crunch developed. In November 2008, Circle Anglia raised £275 million on a 30-year corporate bond . This is the largest bond ever issued by a housing association in its own name. In November 2010, Circle was the first housing group to go to investors after the new government's comprehensive spending review , and raised £124m through a bond tap . The members of the group were: this exceptionally poor provision of repairs and maintenance has been made possible or contributed to by serious and enduring failures in, or in
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1760-686: The delivery of the repairs service". In Scotland this function is performed by the Scottish Housing Regulator . In Wales, the function is carried out by the Welsh government. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) was replaced by a new national housing agency, Homes England, in January 2018, with a remit to acquire land and support brownfield development to help boost housing supply. In October 2018, under chairman Sir Edward Lister and CEO Nick Walkley, it published its first five-year strategy to deliver more homes in areas of greatest need, restating
1815-468: The formerly homeless , young people , ex-offenders , asylum seekers , and people fleeing domestic violence . In Australia, the term "housing association" refers to larger, growth-oriented 'not-for-dividend' community-housing providers. Smaller community housing providers may include trusts, cooperatives etc. State and territory-owned public housing represents about 80% of social housing in Australia. Over
1870-656: The functions of the Academy for Sustainable Communities and the government's advisory team for large applications. In the following months, Martin Cave, Director of the Centre for Management under Regulation at University of Warwick , led the most comprehensive review of English housing regulation for 30 years. Reporting in June, the Cave Review recommended that a new regulator be set up, separating
1925-464: The funding by the Housing Corporation for new house building has been channelled to fewer than 80 "developing housing associations" that have achieved "partner status" through partner programme agreements. Long-term lender option borrower option loans (LOBOs) have been taken out in the past by housing associations. Housing associations borrow money to pay for new homes and improvements. After
1980-462: The government's ambition to deliver 300,000 new homes a year on average. It planned to "significantly increase" housing delivery across South East England and to provide "additional professional skills capacity" for councils. In August 2019, Lister stepped down as chair of Homes England to focus on a newly created role as chief strategic adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson . He was succeeded as chairman by Peter Freeman in October 2020, and, after
2035-456: The largest Telecare providers in England. Circle belongs to two regional clubs of large associations: the G15 in London, and East Seven in East Anglia. Housing associations borrow money to pay for new homes and improvements. During the 2007–2008 financial crisis , banks were less able to provide all the credit that larger associations required, although Circle raised £1.7 billion in bank debt as
2090-585: The majority do not depend on donations for their general activities. New housing generally receives economic subsidies, the source of which will depend on where the association is based: Subsidies for new homes (often termed 'social housing grant') amount to sizeable public investments. In its 2008–11 prospectus, the Housing Corporation stated that in the three-year period to 2011 investment would be "at least £8 billion". The majority of this would go to housing associations for use in development projects. Since 2003, in an effort to seek greater value for money, much of
2145-418: The operation of, Circle’s strategic planning and control framework such that Circle did not adequately manage or mitigate the strategic and operational risks inherent in the delivery of that service Housing association In Ireland and the United Kingdom, housing associations are private, non-profit organisations that provide low-cost " social housing " for people in need of a home. Any budget surplus
2200-908: The poor of London and other towns and populous places in England’. This formed the Sutton Dwellings Trust. In 1909, Sutton Dwellings Trust's first new homes were completed at the Bethnal Green Estate in East London and by 1925 the Trust had developed almost 2,000 homes across six sites, including the Chelsea Estate in South West London. In 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War , the Trust housed over 32,000 people. In 1964, Downland
2255-540: The regulation and investment responsibilities of the Housing Corporation. On 15 October 2007, Yvette Cooper announced that the Government accepted the recommendation of the Cave Review to transfer the Corporation's regulatory powers to an independent body, subsequently named as the Tenant Services Authority (TSA). The new investment body was initially announced as "Communities England", and later renamed as
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2310-486: The second largest award of grant funding in the Homes and Communities Agency 's 2011–15 programme, but as of 2013 is unlikely to deliver all the 3,000 homes promised, because of difficulties in getting higher "affordable rents" agreed with local authorities. The history of Affinity Sutton can be traced back to 1900 when Victorian entrepreneur, William Richard Sutton bestowed his fortune to a charitable trust in his will to provide ‘model dwellings and houses for occupation by
2365-404: The sector's largest groups. In 2005, William Sutton and Ridgehill Boards agree to amalgamate and form a new association, called William Sutton Homes. Downland Affinity and William Sutton Homes then merged in 2006 to become one of the largest housing groups in the sector, Affinity Sutton. In 2007, former MP Kerry Pollard was removed as Chair of William Sutton Homes, after he had complained about
2420-478: The slogan "Helping people put down roots". Affinity Sutton's core purpose was to build and manage rental homes at sub-market rates for those who cannot afford to pay full market rates in the areas where they live. In addition, they also offered accommodation for key workers and those of retirement age and social rented accommodation. Other services they provided include supported housing which delivers extra care and support to vulnerable people and Rent 4 Less which
2475-577: The south east and south west. However, after a campaign for disclosure by Building Design magazine, the agency revealed that many Kickstart projects failed to meet CABE 's standards of good design. The HCA acted as the government's Social Housing Regulator. It provided regular reports on each registered social housing agency in England. In March 2014, it made its first ruling that a housing association had breached its "serious detriment" threshold for harm to consumers for its home repairs against Circle 33 , due to "chronic and long standing difficulties in
2530-558: The state. This status, however, has been challenged by a number of legal rulings. In 2004 the British government accepted an EU ruling that considered housing associations as public bodies for the purposes of procurement. Subsequently, the English High Court in Weaver v. London and Quadrant Housing Trust [2008] EWHC 1377 (Admin) ruled that housing associations were public authorities and as
2585-435: The then lowest interest rate in the sector (4.25% for 30 years). As the Great Recession reduced the viability of property developments, Affinity Sutton wrote off £13 million from asset values in its balance sheet in 2009, which was the largest impairment booked by a housing association to that date. Unlike smaller associations, it was able to bear the loss without requiring additional public grant. Affinity Sutton won
2640-415: The transfer of council housing to not-for-profit housing associations. The 1988 Act redefined housing associations as non-public bodies, permitting access to private finance, which was a strong motivation for transfer as public sector borrowing had been severely constrained. These new housing associations were also the providers of most new public-sector housing. By 2003 36.5% of the social rented housing stock
2695-481: The work of the organisation. A board might include residents, representatives from local authorities and community groups, business people and politicians. There are more than 30,000 voluntary board members running housing associations throughout England . Housing associations' day-to-day activities are funded by rent and service charges payments made by, or on behalf of, those living in its properties. In this sense, housing associations are run as commercial entities and
2750-548: The years these public housing entities have had different names including: 'housing commissions', and 'housing trusts'. Housing associations first appeared in the second half of the nineteenth century as part of the growth in philanthropic and voluntary organisations brought about by the growth of the middle classes in the wake of the Industrial Revolution . Early examples are the Guinness Trust , Peabody Trust and
2805-512: Was established by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 as one of the successor bodies to the Housing Corporation , and became operational on 1 December 2008. On 17 January 2007, Ruth Kelly announced proposals to bring together the investment functions of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and parts of the Department for Communities and Local Government to form a new unified housing and regeneration agency. It would also incorporate
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#17328592426402860-551: Was formed by a group of local businessmen in Sussex led by engineer, Archibald Shaw. In 1990, Mid Sussex Housing Association was formed as one of the first Large Scale Voluntary Transfers when homes from Mid Sussex District Council were transferred from public ownership. In 1992, Broomleigh was formed as the first urban Large Scale Voluntary Transfer of homes from the London Borough of Bromley . In 1994, Ridgehill Housing Association
2915-779: Was formed through the large scale voluntary transfer of Hertsmere Borough Council's homes. In 1996, Downland Housing Society and Mid Sussex Housing Association came together to form the Downland Housing Group. In 2000, Community Building Services was set up to deliver repairs and maintenance services to Ridgehill residents. In 2001, Aashyana, the South West's first Asian led housing association, joined William Sutton Trust. In 2004, Downland Retirement Management and Downland Property Management merged to form Grange Management Group. Downland Housing Group and The Affinity Homes Group then merged to become Downland Affinity and create one of
2970-677: Was held by housing associations. Currently, some of the biggest housing associations in the UK are Clarion Housing Group , Sanctuary Housing , L&Q and Peabody Trust , to name just a few. Some housing associations have partnerships with real estate investment trusts : Civitas Social Housing is the largest social housing real estate investment trust , working with 15 housing associations. Housing associations may be constituted using various forms of legal entity . Many are industrial and provident societies , but there are also trusts , co-operatives and companies. They may or may not be registered charities . Registered social landlord (RSL)
3025-662: Was one of the largest groups of housing associations in the UK. In 2016 it merged with Affinity Sutton and was renamed Clarion Housing Group, becoming the largest UK Housing Association and registered provider of social housing. Clarion provides affordable housing and related services in England, mainly in London, the South East , East Anglia and Birmingham . The group was formed as Circle Anglia when Circle 33 Housing Group and Anglia Housing Group merged in 2005. Circle owns and manages more than 63,500 homes, including supported and sheltered housing, for more than 200,000 people across
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