News Special
from Four Housing
In our annual report sent to you recently we outlined our proposals
to merge with the North East housing association Bernicia
Homes. We’re now writing to give you more information about
these proposals. Please take a few minutes to read through the
information and send us any views or comments that you have in
the free-post envelope provided.
Over the last few months we’ve been in
discussions with Bernicia Homes to explore how
we could work more closely together to create
efficiencies to reinvest in homes and services.
From initial talks it has become clear there are
real advantages in formalising our relationship
to create a stronger, bigger North East social
housing company.
Being a larger group would mean we could
share resources, costs and expertise and make
efficiencies to reinvest in homes and services.
We also believe by coming together the group
would be stronger and better placed to face the
challenges ahead, to continue to provide quality
homes and services to our tenants, to continue to
build new homes and to support the communities
where we work.
What do we have in common
with Bernicia Homes?
• Bernicia Homes is a like-minded organisation
established in a similar way to Four Housing,
with Cheviot Homes (a traditional housing
association) and Wansbeck Homes (a stock
transfer from the local authority) coming
together in 2008 to form a new group.
• Bernicia Homes owns and manages 8,000
homes with almost 6,000 located in South
East Northumberland and over 2,000 within
Tyne and Wear. Merging together would make
sense geographically as it would effectively
‘fill the gap’ between Four Housing’s two main
areas of operation in North Northumberland
and Durham area.
• Both Bernicia Homes and Four Housing are
strong organisations with track records in
delivering good performance and high levels of
customer satisfaction.
• Both organisations are committed to working
with and listening to tenants and have
established structures for involving tenants.
What would the new group
be like?
• If the merger goes ahead this would create
a social housing company with 14,000
properties.
• The group’s registered office would be in
Ashington and there would be local bases in
Durham and Berwick.
• The group would employ over 500 people
across a range of service areas.
• We are proposing that the new group would
be called Bernicia Homes.
• It would have an annual turnover of around
£70 million.
• The group would be run by a single board and
executive team.
• It would also have housing assets worth
£0.3 billion would increase the potential to
raise finance to do even more.
The new group would look like this:
Bernicia
Cheviot Homes
Wansbeck
Homes
Most importantly, what does this all
mean for you?
Most of the changes would happen behind the
scenes and at the front end it would be business
as usual. There would be no change in your
landlord or tenancy agreement, you would contact
us in the same way and receive the same services
you do now.
We know any change throws up a lot of questions
so we’ll try and answer a few things that our
involved tenants asked.
If this happens, when would the
merger go ahead?
There’s still some water to flow under the bridge
but the aim would be to operate as one group
during 2016, potentially from April.
Three Rivers
Housing
Association
Berwick
Borough
Housing
Why are you proposing that
the new organisation be called
Bernicia Homes?
Bernicia Homes is the larger organisation and
we don’t think it would be a good use of time or
money to develop a completely new brand.
What are the benefits of merging?
By sharing costs, expertise and resources we
have already identified efficiencies that could be
reinvested in homes and services. An example
would be buying goods or services ‘in bulk’ which
as a larger group would get us, and you, a
better deal.
What would happen to me and
my home?
You would see no change, your tenancy would
continue with the same rights and responsibilities
you have now. For example if you have the right
to buy or acquire your home you would still
have this.
Would my rent increase?
Your rent would not increase because of Four
Housing and Bernicia Homes coming together.
Remember the rents we charge are dictated by
government policy and only change in April each
year. In their summer budget the Government
announced that all social housing tenants’ rents
must be reduced by 1% a year for the next
4 years.
What will the impact be on services?
In the short term they will remain the same and
we will continue to work with you to make sure
we provide these services to the highest possible
standard. Over time however we would look to
further improve our services to you. One of the
main reasons that we are proposing this merger
is that it will give us the opportunity to create
efficiencies so that we have more money to
reinvest in front line services.
How will it affect plans for
major improvements?
Maintaining homes to a high standard is a priority
for both organisations. This will remain a priority
for the merged organisation.
Would customer involvement be
given the same importance In the
new organisation?
Both organisations are committed to working
with customers to improve services. There will be
differences in the way this is organised between
Four Housing and Bernicia Homes. We are very
proud of our approach to customer involvement
and there will not be any changes immediately.
Over time it will be about looking at what each
does well and taking the best from each.
We want your views
An important part of this process is asking you
what you think about the proposed merger.
We are sending this information to all tenants
to give you the opportunity to comment on
the proposed merger and/or ask any further
questions.
If you have any comments or questions please
complete the form opposite and return it to us
in the freepost envelope (no stamp required).
Alternatively you may email us on
merger@fourhousing.co.uk or speak to us by
telephoning 0300 00 44 444.
All comments will be reviewed by our Board in
December 2015, so if you have any comments or
questions we need to hear from you by
25 November 2015.
At a glance...
Four Housing incorporates Three Rivers, a
traditional housing association established
in 1971 and Berwick Borough Housing, a
stock transfer from Berwick Borough Council
which took place in November 2008.
Four Housing is a charitable, not for profit
company, generating £30 million turnover in
2014/15.
Four Housing has offices in Durham and
Berwick and a depot in Spennymoor,
manages 5,300 homes exclusively in the
north east and employs 150 people.
Four Housing’s vision is “Creating Homes,
Improving Lives”.
Bernicia Homes incorporates Cheviot
Homes, a traditional housing association
operating for 46 years and Wansbeck
Homes, a stock transfer from Wansbeck
District Council which took place in February
2008.
Bernicia Homes is a charitable, not for profit
company, generating £42.48 million turnover
in 2014/15.
Bernicia Homes is based in Ashington,
manages over 8,000 homes exclusively in the
north east and employs 380 people.
Bernicia Homes vision is “Helping to create
places where people want to live”.
For more information visit:
www.fourhousing.co.uk - www.berniciahomes.com
Your views on our proposed merger:
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Address
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What do you think about our proposed merger between
Four Housing and Bernicia Homes?
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Is there anything you don’t understand, or that concerns you?
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Remember if you want to comment we need to hear from you by 25 November 2015
Please return this form in the
freepost envelope provided
by 25 November 2015.