GreenSquareAccord claim their focus is on building better lives. They claim this is why GreenSquareAccord was created, so that they can improve services to customers; invest more in local communities; extend their care and support services; and build more affordable homes. According to GreenSquareAccord everything they do is about people – whether that’s providing a good quality, safe home or helping someone to live an independent life.
GreenSquareAccord often post about themselves being passionately in their mission to build better lives and provide social housing and support services to 54,000 people across our four localities. They state that they are proud to play an active role in helping people to deal with the consequences of the housing crisis by providing affordable homes for people in our communities who need them most. However many a resident would disagree.
GreenSquareAccord was formed in April 2021 from the merger of the similar-sized Accord Housing Association, based in the West Midlands, and GreenSquare Group, based in the South West.
Both organisations have a long history of providing affordable homes and support services for people in need. GreenSquare’s origins date back to 1866 when the Oxford Cottage Improvement Company Limited established itself as a local pioneer in driving housing reform. Whilst the origins of Accord date back even further with the creation of the Harpers Almshouse charity in 1511 to provide lodging for poor men visiting Walsall.
For both Accord and GreenSquare, various partnerships and mergers in more recent years have brought together locally-based housing associations; and, in Accord’s case, there has been significant growth in the delivery of care and support services. Now, this coming together (according to GreenSquareAccord) of these two strong organisations has created one that’s even stronger with ambitions to do more – and do it better – than either could on its own. It has however caused many issues for residents and the brought to light many ongoing and worrying safety conners.
RSH Narrative Regulatory Judgement
Provider: Accord Housing Association Limited
Regulatory code: LH3902
Publication date: 27 October 2021
Governance grade: G2
Viability grade: V2
Reason for publication: Governance downgrade
Regulatory route: Stability Check and Reactive Engagement
This judgement downgrades Accord Housing Association Limited’s (Accord) interim judgement from G1 to G2 and confirms its existing V2 grade.
Accord continues to meet the requirements on governance set out in the Governance and Financial Viability Standard. However, following reactive engagement we have concluded that it needs to improve some aspects of its governance arrangements to support continued compliance.
Shortly after completing its merger, Accord made a self-referral to the regulator, relating to statutory health and safety performance. Following investigation, we concluded that Accord had failed to meet statutory health and safety requirements in relation to fire, electrical and asbestos safety in the legacy Accord Housing Association stock. We set out our findings in a Regulatory Notice published earlier this month.
We have also concluded that concerns about landlord health and safety compliance data raised by advisors undertaking due diligence, as part of the merger process, were not responded to appropriately by either legacy organisation. Accord now needs to ensure that actions being taken since the merger to strengthen its governance and compliance frameworks are robust and based on reliable data. It also needs to ensure that the board maintains effective oversight of health and safety compliance and that appropriate actions are being taken in relation to all significant due diligence findings.
Based on evidence gained from a Stability Check, the regulator has assurance that Accord has an adequately funded business plan, access to sufficient security and is forecast to continue to meet its financial covenants. It has the financial capacity to deal with a reasonable range of adverse scenarios.
However, the current plan forecasts a very low level of stock investment within legacy Accord properties. Improvements in stock condition data may introduce significant additional costs in the early years of the plan, which in combination with the delivery of extensive post-merger efficiencies, is a material risk which Accord will need to manage to ensure continued compliance.
Other providers included in the judgement
Westlea Housing Association Limited LH4083
About the provider;
Origins
In April 2021 GreenSquare Group Limited and GreenSquare Community Housing transferred engagements to Accord. The merged body uses the trading name GreenSquareAccord.
Accord is a community benefit society providing social housing, regeneration, care and support, and commercial services. Its corporate strategy is to meet housing and care and support needs.
Registered Entities
Accord is an asset holding group parent. It has one registered provider subsidiary. Westlea Housing Association is a mature stock transfer organisation which owns around 7,800 properties.
Unregistered Entities
There are four unregistered entities, GreenSquare Homes Limited, GreenSquare Construction Limited, GreenSquare Estates Limited and Accord Group Treasury Limited.
Geographic Spread and Scale
Accord owns and manages around 25,000 homes across the West Midlands to the South of England, with concentrations of stock in the Midlands, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.
Staffing and Turnover
The group employs 2,000 staff. It had a turnover of £248m for the year ended 31 March 2021.
Development
Accord plans to develop 1,900 new homes between 2021 and 2026.
Housing Ombudsman
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202014306)
The complaint is about: The landlord’s response to the resident’s concerns about the safety of storage heaters installed in her property. The landlord’s handling of the associated complaint.
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202103826)
The complaint concerns the fulfilment of the terms of a self-build scheme.
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202011790)
The resident complains about: The landlord’s handling of the resident’s concerns about the installation of a thinner smaller windowpane (glass). The information provided by the contractors to the resident about the type of windows which were to be installed. The length of time the repairs have been outstanding. The landlord’s handling of the reported leak, the damp patch and smell in the property. The Ombudsman has also considered the landlord handling of the complaint.
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202108707)
The resident’s complaint is about the landlord’s response to her request for compensation for personal belongings that were damaged by a water leak and for the period during which she was unable to live in the property.
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202012331)
The complaint concerns the following issues:
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202122363)
The complaint is about the level of rent at the property.
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202010493)
The complaint is about: The landlord’s handling of the resident’s reports of no hot water and heating and repairs to her storage heaters. The landlord’s handling of the resident’s reports of draughty windows.
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202013559)
The level of compensation offered to the resident in relation to the landlord’s handling of a heating repair and a leak at their property.
GreenSquareAccord Limited (202012871)
The complaint refers to the landlord’s handling of: Repairs to plastering in the property. Repairs to the resident’s boiler. The resident’s request for a replacement bathroom suite The resident’s request for kitchen alterations. Its communication with the resident The resident’s concerns related to racial discrimination. The length of time taken for the landlord to offer the resident a property transfer. The associated complaints.
GreenSquare Group Limited (201909593)
The resident complains about the landlord’s offer of compensation in response to concerns about damp and a leak at the property.
GreenSquare Group Limited (202008527)
The complaint concerns: the landlord’s response to the resident’s complaint about its communication with her during her adaptation building works. the landlord’s decision not to reimburse the resident for any costs she incurred during the adaptation works. the landlord’s request for the resident to pause building work to her home.
Accord Housing Association Limited (202006726)
The complaint is about the landlord’s response to information provided by the resident about her right to buy request.
Resident Website
There is also a resident support website: www.greensquareaccordresidents.co.uk