Housing associations provide affordable sales and rental housing to people on low incomes or who require extra support. Between them, and other local authorities, they provide almost 20% of the UK’s stock, housing almost 6 million people. So, which are the best UK housing associations? We looked at housing association tenant reviews and ratings right here on HomeViews to find out.
What is the biggest housing association in the UK?
The biggest housing association in the UK is Clarion Housing. Clarion manages 125,000 dwellings, while the second-largest is L&Q, with 105,000. The Peabody Trust is the third-largest, with around 104,000 homes on its books.
How many housing associations are there in the UK?
There are around 1,600 housing associations, or ‘private registered providers’ (PRPs) in the UK. These include charities as well as for-profit companies and non-profit companies. Local authorities also provide social housing. In total, 196 local authorities registered in the UK provide housing.
List of UK housing associations rated on HomeViews
Some of the biggest UK housing associations
Below are some of the UK’s larger housing associations. We’ve looked at verified resident reviews for these organisations and listed them here in alphabetical order with their ‘overall’ ratings. We calculated their score based on an average of all their resident ratings, providing a good idea of their overall performance.
Click on any of the companies below to see more details and all rated developments.
Southern Housing (formerly Southern Housing Group and Optivo) is one of the largest housing providers in the UK. With over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we currently provide over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own. We understand the difference safe, secure, and affordable homes can […] Read more about Southern Housing
A2Dominion is a residential property group based in the UK, who own and manage over 32,000 homes across London and Southern England. Its property portfolio is diverse with a range of affordable, private and social rented homes, housing for older people alongside student, NHS and temporary accommodation. A2Dominion developments Deepak House, West Plaza, Keybridge House […] Read more about A2Dominion
We’re one of England’s leading providers of quality homes. We love to build and we take great pride in the homes we deliver and manage. We build homes for London Living Rent and Shared Ownership across London and Hertfordshire. We operate commercially but our profits are reinvested back into building more affordable homes and providing […] Read more about Sovereign Network Group
Clarion Housing is the UK’s largest housing association, with 125,000 properties across the nation housing 360,000 residents. Clarion aims to ‘build homes and develop futures’, and is set to deliver 50,000 more residential units over the next ten years. The company is focused on sustainable regeneration of existing communities and has won a plethora of […] Read more about Clarion Housing
The Hyde Group is a UK-based housing association that’s primarily focused on residential property in London and the South East of England. It currently manages around 50,000 homes in London, with a mission to provide ‘a great home for everyone.’ The Hyde Group developments HomeViews lists developments by The Hyde Group situated across London. Bermondsey […] Read more about The Hyde Group
L&Q believe passionately that people’s health, security and happiness depend on where they live. L&Q house around 250,000 people in more than 105,000 homes, primarily across London and the South East – but L&Q are more than just a registered charitable housing association. L&Q create better places to live by delivering high quality homes, neighbourhoods […] Read more about L&Q
Metropolitan Thames Valley is a partnership between Metropolitan and Thames Valley Housing and works across London, the South East, East Midlands and the East of England developing properties at different levels of affordability. It is a member of the G15 group. Metropolitan Developments Marvelfairs House is a Metropolitan Thames Valley development currently listed on HomeViews located in […] Read more about Metropolitan Thames Valley
Notting Hill Genesis was founded in 2018 – a merger between Notting Hill Housing and Genesis Housing Association. It exists to provide new communities characterised by quality, affordable housing, and operates across London and England’s South East regions. Notting Hill Genesis developments Notting Hill Genesis developments on HomeViews include Zenith Close – a peaceful, purpose-built neighbourhood […] Read more about Notting Hill Genesis
Founded in 2007, One Housing Group is a not-for-profit organisation that manages around 16,000 homes across London and the surrounding counties. The company plans to build 5,000 new homes over the next ten years. One Housing Group developments One Housing Group developments listed on HomeViews include Brackenbury Grove – a collection of one, two and three-bedroom luxury […] Read more about One Housing Group
Peabody is one of London’s largest housing providers, committed to designing, building and maintaining quality homes and neighbourhoods. Peabody and Family Mosaic merged back in 2017, and now look after thousands of residents in homes across London, Essex, Sussex, Hampshire and Kent. Peabody developments HomeViews lists Peabody developments across the capital, from E13’s Upton Village […] Read more about Peabody
Optivo are one of the largest housing providers in the UK. Established in 2014, the company manage around 45,000 affordable homes across London, the South East and also the Midlands. Optivo’s aim is to “invest in the quality, safety and environmental sustainability of homes, provide great customer experience and also, be a leading provider of […] Read more about Optivo
Guinness Homes is a national charitable housing association that operates across England, and was founded in 1890. The company owns and manages more than 65,000 homes and is one of the largest housing associations in the country. Guinness Homes developments Electric Quarter in a Guinness Homes development in South London. The development is in the […] Read more about Guinness Homes
Bromford are a housing association with almost 45,000 homes spread across central and South West England. Bromford believe in providing warm, safe and secure homes.
Legal & General have been involved in housing for over 20 years. They work with local authorities, housing associations, and developers across the country. They aim to deliver over 3,000 affordable new homes a year. Furthermore, Legal & General Affordable Homes is partnered with 14 housing associations and providers for day-to-day management of the properties. […] Read more about Legal & General Affordable Homes
Moat is a housing association providing affordable homes for people in the South East of England. Moat Homes is Homes England development partners. Developing around 600 new homes every year, owning and manages over 20,000 homes in the South East. All financial surpluses are reinvested to provide additional affordable homes and services. Moat Homes Developments […] Read more about Moat Homes
FABRICA is part of a property business, building and designing homes in carefully considered locations. From apartments of urban architecture to more rural houses, every FABRICA development is dedicated to quality, sustainable living and customer service. FABRICA’s approach is to understand the locations and communities of their developments. Every development is built to be unique. […] Read more about FABRICA
Tower Hamlets Homes is a non-profit organisation that was set up to deliver quality housing for 21,000 residents across East London. The company works alongside Tower Hamlets Council who owns the homes in the portfolio, with Tower Hamlets Homes managing the tenancies and leases for each building. Tower Hamlets Homes developments The Ionian Building is […] Read more about Tower Hamlets Homes
B3Living rent and sell homes to help people who are priced out of the market. They work with their local community in Broxbourne and across southeast Hertfordshire, where they have 5,000 homes supporting more than 12,000 people.
NLM (North London Muslim Housing Association) is a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to provide outstanding customer service. They manage 1000 homes in 5 local authority areas across North East London, building neighbourhoods and to transform the lives of residents.
Housing associations provide a variety of different types of affordable housing to those who need it. Social rented and affordable rented homes are offered at a lower price than the normal market rate. Shared Ownership homes are offered as a more affordable way of buying a home, while supported and specialist housing is also provided by housing associations.
Additionally, housing association offer housing to rent and buy at normal market rates. Charities and non-profit companies will reinvest any profits made into providing more homes, or into local communities. The Government also provides funding for housing associations to supply homes.
What other work do housing associations do?
In addition to building new homes and offering various support packages for those in need of housing, housing associations often provide valuable community services. Housing associations are dedicated to the communities they work in, and typically run a host of services for local people. These can include providing training and advice services, youth schemes, apprenticeships and community hubs, and regenerating poor quality homes to help areas become thriving, happy places to live.
In the UK, housing associations are not-for-profit organisations. As such, they don’t make profit for shareholders and they invest all of their income back into delivering on their social aims. This means building new homes, improving existing properties and estates, providing support for vulnerable people and helping to run valuable community services.
Who do housing associations provide housing for?
To be eligible for housing association accommodation, you typically have to first apply to your local council’s housing register. Each local council has different rules associated with applying to be added to the housing register, and you may have to spend time on a waiting list before being added. Once you’re on the list, you may be offered council housing or housing association accommodation.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
