BUILDING A STRONGER FUTURE TOGETHER
Share your views on the proposal of Shepherds Bush Housing Association joining The Guinness Partnership.
WHAT ARE WE PROPOSING TO DO?
Shepherds Bush Housing Association (SBHA) is proposing to partner with The Guinness Partnership Limited (TGPL) to create a stronger housing offer across west London.
It’s proposed that initially SBHA would join Guinness as a subsidary. This means that, like now, SBHA would have its own Board running the association on a day to day basis.
The difference is that SBHA would sit within a Group which allows access to a greater pool of expert resources and improved financial strength, giving us more certainty on being able to improve the quality of homes quicker.
We think this is an exciting proposal that will deliver real benefit for our customers. In this document you will find more information on our organisations, the benefits of the proposals, what this means for you, and how to provide your feedback.
IMPORTANT DATES
The proposed partnership was announced.
Customer Engagement begins.
Customer Engagement closes.
Presentation of findings to SBHA’s Shareholders and Board.
Final decision taken by our Shareholders and Board.
28 APR 2023 W/C 03 JUL 2023 SEP 2023 AUTUMN 2023 W/C 14 AUG 2023 LATE 2023
If agreed SBHG becomes a subsidiary of The Guinness Partnership.
WHY DO WE THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING?
We believe the partnership will make us stronger and enable us to do more for the customers and communities we serve across west London.
We will:
Improve the quality of homes quicker
Residents will receive investment to their homes, of over £200 million in the next ten years, which is sooner than we can currently invest as an independent SBHA.
Increase the focus on our customers
Residents will have a stronger voice and more chances to engage with us - enabling residents to help shape the future of housing across west London.
Invest more in our local communities
The community will benefit from improved services and maintenance across our local green spaces and estates, and an investment of at least £350k in a new community fund over the first three years of partnership.
Provide more homes
Over the first years of the partnership, we hope to create up to 1,000 new homes in west London. With an improved combined financial plan, SBHA will not need to sell as many properties, which will in turn create more choices for rehousing options.
Provide certainty for the longer-term
By combining our strengths at a national and local level we will create a strong partnership in west London, enabling us to anticipate and respond to the increasing challenges in the sector more effectively.
KEY FACTS ABOUT OUR ORGANISATIONS
Formed in 1968, charitable Housing Association based in west London.
Formed in 1890, charitable housing group based across England.
Almost 5,000 Homes across west London.
Almost 65,000 homes across the UK about 7,000 of these are in London.
Wide range of housing including social rent, low cost home ownership, specialist tenures and outright sales.
Wide range of housing including social rent, low cost home ownership, specialist tenures and outright sales.
Strong social purpose and history of delivering community - based services.
Strong social purpose and history of delivering community - based services.
Aspiration to build new homes across west London.
Strong track record of building new affordable housing.
WHAT WE LOOK LIKE TOGETHER
Combining our strengths at national and local level will create a powerful partnership in west London.
An improved service offer for tenants and homeowners. This will include greater investment in homes, an enhanced online offer and increased customer engagement opportunities.
A minimum of £350k over the first three years of our Partnership invested in a new Community Fund.
A target of 1,000 new homes developed in west London over the first few years of our Partnership.
The local development programme will be boosted and property disposals will reduce.
HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT RESIDENTS?
Involving and empowering residents
You will have access to new methods of having your say on how services can be improved.
There will be a place for a SBHA resident on the Guinness Customer Committee and also a place for a SBHA resident on the Guinness Board.
The current Resident Panel will expand into an enhanced Panel across west London.
You will be able to apply for grants under Guinness’s Aspire schemehelping pay for education, training and equipment to support start-up businesses.
An improved service offer for tenants and homeowners
Over time, you will be able to access improved digital and online services.
Greater certainty of cyclical maintenance and future property investment (for our homeowners, this will protect and enhance the value of their investment).
You will have increased access to Guinness homes should you want to transfer (subject to any local authority rules).
The benefit of greater investment and improvements across your estate and local green areas.
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Whilst offering all of the above, we can assure you of the following
Your Tenancy or lease and security of tenure will not change.
Initially, the way you contact us to raise a repair or discuss your tenancy will not change.
The way we set your rent will remain the same.
We will still have a local presence across the west London community with a locally based housing services team.
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SOME QUESTIONS WE HAVE RECEIVED
Will the partnership be a big distraction from running the business?
No it won’t. Our priority will always be to ensure we are able to provide an accessible service for all our residents. We have a small number of people who are concentrating on the partnership - these people do not work in our front line services.
Will you lose your local connection by joining a national organisation?
Under the proposal we still intend to keep a local presence. The ways that our residents currently access our services will remain the same on the day SBHA joins the Guinness Group (such as a dedicated online offer, customer contact centre and housing team). Residents should continue to get in touch and report issues in the same way they currently do.
Is there a risk that either organisation will be financially weaker after the partnership?
One of the main drivers for this proposed partnership is increasing financial strength and resilience. As part of this process we are carrying out detailed due diligence to provide assurance to both our Boards. We have shared our plans with our Lenders and they are supportive of the proposed changes.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
These are proposals. We want to know what you think of them so we can share your views with our Shareholders and Board before they make a final decision about whether to form the partnership later in the year.
You can share your views with us either by:
Post
Completing the short questionnaire included with this leaflet and returning it to us in the pre-paid envelope.
Online
Responding online by visiting www.sbhg.co.uk/partnership-survey or by scanning the QR Code here.
In-Person
We will also be arranging a series of in-person events where you can talk directly to us about the proposals. These focus groups will be independently facilitated by Tenant engagement experts, TPAS. If you would like to attend one of these events please let us know when you complete the survey.
Whichever way you choose to share your feedback, your response will remain confidential.
If you want more information on these proposals and how they affect you, and for the latest FAQ’s please visit www.sbhg.co.uk/partnership
ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION
Do you or someone you know need this information in another language or format?
Translation options are available on our website along with further information about our proposals.
Other accessibility options are also available such as website compatibility with screen readers.
If you need this document in a different format (e.g. braille or large print) please let us know so we can arrange this for you.
www.sbhg.co.uk 020 8996 4200 partnership@sbhg.co.uk
