- Derwent Living
-
Derwent Living is the trading name of Derwent Housing Association Limited, a housing provider based in Derby, United Kingdom. They are an independent, not-for-profit provider of affordable housing, specialist and retirement housing, with a property portfolio covering South Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South East[1]. Their commercial activities include the provision and management of student accommodation at sites in London, Sheffield and the Midlands as well as properties to rent, buy or part-buy part rent across the midlands.
Contents
Activities
Derwent Living's focus is on providing affordable housing for those in greatest need, with efforts directed specifically at supporting women affected by domestic violence. In order to fund these schemes, Derwent Living uses its profits from its commercial student accommodation activities to further develop its social housing projects.
The housing provider actively incorporates the views of its residents through consultation, participation and annual customer satisfaction surveys[2]. In October 2010, Derwent Living received accreditation from the Tenant Participatory Advisory Service(TPAS) in recognition of its efforts[3].
History
Derwent Living was founded in 1964 in order to provide co-ownership housing for first time buyers. During its first 10 years, homes were provided in Derby, Nottingham, Loughborough and the West Midlands. In the mid-to-late 1970s, the company accessed Housing Association Grant money which it used to build much of its current housing stock. As the amount of grant available decreased during the 1980s, the company switched its development focus from houses to flats for single people, couples and sheltered schemes for the elderly.
During the 1990s, Derwent Living diversified its activities, establishing itself as a provider of student accommodation, while also offering maintenance and housing management services to other landlords. The 2000s saw a substantial increase in the amount of student accommodation offered, as well the classification of Keyworker accommodation for NHS staff as a company priority.
As house prices in England rose to outstrip salaries, Derwent Living found that demand for part-buy part-rent options increased, with many properties sold through their Easy Living scheme in 2008. As the house market began to decline in 2009, they responded by introducing ‘Try before you buy’ to their housing portfolio – a scheme where you can rent a property for up to three years at a reduced costs whilst saving for the deposit to buy the property. This proved successful and was accepted by the Homes and Communities Agency, who promoted the scheme nationally as ‘Rent to Homebuy’.
In 2008, John Martin retired as chief executive of Derwent Living, and was replaced by Peter McCormack.[citation needed]
Management Structure
Derwent Living is managed by a board composed largely of unpaid voluntary members. These members include current and former chief executives of housing associations, retired teachers, independent consultants and Derwent Living residents.[4].
The board meets quarterly to formulate policy and discuss key decisions relating to activities and finances. Specific aspects of the business are managed through a committee structure, covering the areas of:
- Operations
- Commercial
- Resources
- Audit and risk
- Renumeration
In addition to this, Derwent Living has a team of executive directors and senior managers responsible for running individual aspects of the housing association, such as development, ICT and customer services.
Property Portfolio
Derwent Living currently operate within the areas of Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands. Their property portfolio covers a number of categories:
- 'Affordable' housing - Homes to rent for people on lower incomes
- 'Easy Living' - Aimed at young professionals looking for their first property.
- Retirement housing - Homes to rent and buy for people aged 55 or over, often grouped together within certain geographical areas in order to create retirement communities.
- Specialist housing - Accommodation for NHS staff and special need schemes for frail elderly people, Asian elders and vulnerable women with children.
- Student housing
Student Housing
Derwent Living manages a range of student accommodation schemes across the country. The profits generated from their student operations are used to fund other aspects of the housing provider’s operations, such as building affordable homes for vulnerable groups.
They currently operate the following student accommodation schemes:
- Derwent Point – Islington, London
- The Canalside – Birmingham
- Brookside – Derby
- Waterway Gardens – Leicester
- The Cube – Sheffield
- The Trigon – Sheffield
- Raleigh Park – Nottingham
- Trinity Square – Nottingham
- Lynden House – Coventry
- Forest Court – Loughborough
Derwent Point is the housing provider’s most recent development, opening in September 2010. It represents the first phase of Derwent Living’s strategy to expand beyond its traditional territories of the Midlands, South Yorkshire and the South East.
Derwent Living was listed in the estate agent Savills list of the top 11 providers of purpose built student housing – one of only three housing associations to do so[5].
The Butterfly Project
In 2009, Derwent Living was awarded first place in the Complex Needs category at the Guardian Public Services Awards for 'The Butterfly Project'[6]. The project provides a refuge for women who are victims of domestic violence and who also suffer from mental health problems or drug and alcohol addiction. The project was set up in 2009 and has its roots in the women's refuge at Derby which Derwent Living has managed for over 15 years.
Community Development Activities
Derwent Living’s Community Development team facilitates resident involvement activities and strategy throughout the organisation. The team’s remit includes community cohesion, tenant consultation, diversionary activities, up skilling, training and tenant scrutiny. The team also look at new initiatives and supply energy saving advice and adaptations to properties.
TPAS Accreditation
Derwent Living was officially accredited by the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (T.P.A.S.) in October 2010. The accreditation is an objective of Derwent Living’s 2009 -2012 Community Development strategy[7].
References
- ^ FMX Magazine - Derwent Living Group to manage student rooms at Aston University Campus
- ^ Annual report - About Derwent Living
- ^ Derwent Living Achieves Landlord Accreditation
- ^ Board information - Board - About Derwent Living
- ^ The lure of bricks and mortar boards | Analysis | Inside Housing
- ^ Light in the darkness | Public Services Awards | The Guardian
- ^ http://www.derwentliving.com/downloads/ResidentInvolvementstrategy.pdf
See also
External Links
Categories:- Housing associations
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