New Starts Annual Report 2017/18
www.soha.co.uk
New starts Moving has helped re-start my life Kerri, East Hagbourne
My new garden flat has transformed my life. I am epileptic and our previous home, a third-floor flat, wasn’t suitable. It made going out difficult and had a negative impact on the family’s well-being. I was put in touch with Soha and got the help I needed. The Tenancy Support Officer was so helpful. Moving has helped re-start my life: I’ve got a new job, feel healthier and my son is doing better at school.
This year ‘The First Step Forward Learning Hub’ at Cholsey Pavilion has flourished. We provide communitybased adult education and support residents to empower themselves through improving self-confidence, mental health and well-being. As a Cholsey Community Champion I’ve helped others towards a positive chapter in their lives. I have only been able to do this after getting support myself. I am proud to make a difference: a community working together is so powerful.
Now I am proud to be making a difference Poppy, Cholsey
It was amazing when my partner Becky and I picked up the keys to our first home together this year. We didn’t think it would be possible due to high house prices. But thankfully our dream came true via shared ownership.
Shared ownership has completely changed our lives Oliver, Great Western Park
I’m a Maths teacher and Becky is studying. Now we have the space to work at home and peace of mind. Shared ownership has completely changed our lives and given us a fantastic opportunity.
Read all our stories at www.soha.co.uk/meet-the-neighbours
It’s been a rewarding experience Barry, Wheatley
Volunteering has given me a new lease of life. I really enjoy giving something back and sharing my knowledge. This year I’ve developed my Digital Champion role and taught fellow residents how to use tablets. In some cases, it has enabled people to create CVs and apply for jobs. It’s been a rewarding experience. Our social events are great fun and I’ve made new friends too.
I joined the Soha membership committee because I believe in the opportunity Soha has given residents to make a difference. Shareholder tenants have a say in decisions that can improve our community. Soha not only helped me find a home, it gave me chances to give something back to the community. It is a new start and it is empowering to feel valued.
It is a new start and it is empowering to feel valued Victoria, Henley-on-Thames
My wife Gwennyth and I have enjoyed continued independence via Soha’s Extra Care housing package. Gwennyth is registered blind and having access to care in our own home is invaluable.
We can live our lives to the full Ashley
Private care is expensive and Soha provided an attractive, desirable alternative. We’ve enjoyed a great sense of community here. We can live our lives to the full.
A message from
Kate Wareing, Soha’s new Chief Executive
It gives me great pleasure to present our 2017/18 annual report to you, and to introduce myself to you as Soha’s new Chief Executive.
March 20
Economic Standards ✓ Value for money We are a high performing provider of homes with lower running costs than most other housing associations. The number of homes Soha provides puts us amongst the top developing associations in the upper quartile (Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Global Accounts 2017).
✓ Rent
This has also been the year in which we established Soha as a mutual association and opened up shareholding membership to our residents. This gives our residents a clear legal role in taking the biggest decisions that affect Soha, and means our Board are now clearly accountable to our new shareholding members. This builds on our long history of involving residents in all aspects of Soha’s work, helping us deliver excellent services for residents and ensuring we are truly embedded in the communities we exist to serve.
We remain an association that knows our business is not just about houses: it is about people, homes and communities. I look forward to working with you over the next year to continue the excellent work that Soha is known for, and build our collective vision for our future as an excellent community led housing association.
standard
In line with all housing associations, Soha must meet Social Housing (RSH) previously known as the Homes deliver these achievements.
2017/18 has been an important and successful year for Soha. We have remained a high performing, financially secure landlord. 91% of our residents say they are satisfied with our services and our staff report that they are proud to work for Soha. Rental income for 2017/18 was over £37m, producing a surplus of over £10m after costs. We’ve continued to invest our surplus in building new homes and have constructed 121 properties for rent and 64 properties for shared ownership during 2017/18.
I am honoured to be joining Soha at this stage. Our new mutual model, solid performance and healthy operating surplus provide us with exciting opportunities to engage with our members and community stakeholders to deliver our existing corporate plan, and to think about how Soha makes the biggest contribution possible to meeting housing need and building strong communities in the areas we serve.
Meeting the
We comply with the Regulator’s standard for rent calculation.
✓ Financial viability and governance We are an efficient business (Regulator analysis of cost per unit). Soha received the top ratings of G1 for governance (meaning we are well-managed) and V1 for finance (meaning we are financially sound).
Want to contact us? housing@soha.co.uk
0800 014 15 45 (Freephone) Soha Housing, Royal Scot House, 99 Station Road, Didcot, OX11 7NN
Win £100! Take part in the prize draw survey inserted into this Report and send it back Freepost or complete the online form at www.soha.co.uk/AR2018-feedback
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standards set by the government’s Regulator of s and Communities Agency. We invest in our staff to
Value for
money
Soha Housing doesn’t make a profit – all our income is spent on maintaining your home, building new homes and investing in your communities.
Consumer Standards ✓ Home Over 90% of tenants say their home is good quality and 82% are satisfied with our repairs service. Repairs are carried out more quickly than last year at an average of 7.7 days and most are completed first time. 91% of residents say they are satisfied overall with Soha as a landlord. We are Customer Service Excellence accredited.
..which pays for £16.7m of maintenance and improvements to tenants’ homes... We also spent £5.5m on other costs including staff. Most of Soha’s income is from rent set using a government formula...
We sold 6 higher priced properties. 31 households bought a larger share in their home and, together with 40 new shared ownership homes, this brought in a total of £4.7m.
Soha’s income (excluding property sales) 2017/18 was £37.7m.
✓ Tenant involvement and empowerment An independent report states that Soha’s involvement with tenants is exceptionally good. We aim to keep encouraging tenants to make more use of our online services. During 2017/18 we became a mutual organisation with tenants having the opportunity to become shareholders for the first time.
..and alongside the sale of some properties...
..to provide new homes for people who need them at a cost to us of £28.6m. We provided 185 new affordable homes for rent and shared ownership. That represents a 2.8% increase.
..after interest payments and revaluation adjustments leaves a surplus of £10.6m. We use this along with current levels of available funds...
✓ Neighbourhood and community 91% of tenants are happy with their neighbourhood. 87% of tenants affected by neighbour issues are satisfied with how we handled their case. We take pride in our communities.
✓ Tenancy Rent arrears are low at just 2.5% and we continue to offer support to those affected by benefit changes. We aim to let homes quickly and fairly, mainly through choice based lettings and the average time for a new tenant to move into a property is down to 22 days.
What you think about our
spending
We listen to you. Your views are the measures that matter the most. This is what you say:
91
%
of tenants are satisfied overall with our service
82
%
of tenants are satisfied with our repairs service
89
%
of tenants are satisfied that Soha rents offer value for money
79
%
of tenants are satisfied that we listen to, and act on, their views
Resident satisfaction
Soha’s
year in numbers
87% 91% 90% 91% 79%
2017/18
Number of homes
Involvement
100
%
Total number of homes
6,721
185
new homes added in 2017/18
427
total lettings
of our homes meet the Decent Homes Standard
70
mutual exchanges
40
shared ownerships sold
514 8 2 1 99% 87%
households involved in the running of our business.
Repairs Number of repairs
16,924
98,969 5,951 630 40,500 53.93%
calls received
£2,129,000
(June 2017 to March 2018)
website visitors
7.7 days
82%
Repairs fixed on first visit
of tenants are satisfied with our repairs service
90
%
on a mobile or tablet
The website includes information about our services and you can also use it to advise us about repairs. An app is about to be launched which will enable you to do more on the move.
Planned maintenance (existing homes)
151 481 164 kitchens
windows and doors
bathrooms
satisfied with the quality of their home satisfied with Soha’s overall service satisfied that we listen to their views
anti-social behaviour cases notices served due to ASB court orders due to ASB
1,236 29 209 redecorations
roofs
heating systems
73 71 2
of ASB cases resolved of tenants are satisfied with how we handled their ASB case
g
2
k
5
s
1
s
So gr p
A
B U B W
complaints received resolved at Stage 1*
A
withdrawn
Stage 1 means the start of the formal complaint process with a repsonse provided by a Senior Manager.
Evictions due to rent arrears
1
due to anti-social behaviour
Out & about
428
5
G
*
13
W
eviction due to ASB
Complaints
emails received website chat conversations
satisfied with their neighbourhood
Note: The majority of ASB enquiries relate to noise.
at a cost of
Average time to complete a repair
Communication
satisfied with our lettings process
Anti-social behaviour
239
O
estate inspections (plus 390 in sheltered and Extra Care estates)
134
handypersons visits
E
Where the
Our residents
We have 6,721 households which include:
5,084
301
29
625
general needs rented
keyworkers
578
money goes 36,358 855
Total income
37,652
37,213
All other Soha running costs
10,021 6,724 5,533
9,631 4,504 5,966
Total Costs
22,278
20,101
4,666
5,479
Net interest payable on our loans
341 (9,828)
1,068 (9,529)
Surplus for the year
10,553
14,130
0 (2,123)
0 (2,002)
28,606
22,485
Costs The cost of repairing & maintaining homes *
supported and extra care
The cost of replacement fixtures & fittings in homes *
oha residents include plumbers, volunteers, builders, nurses, randparents, teaching assistants, carers, retired, community activists, parents, charity workers, teachers, accountants and many more!
Other
As at March 2018
Surplus from selling shared ownership and other properties
Bedroom Tax households: 263 Universal Credit claimants: 298 Benefit Cap affected households: 53 We collected 99.1p of every £1 in rent
Gender %
60 Female
Age
Other income
37,188 464
Income from all rents and service charges
shared ownership
market rented or unsold
103
2017 £’000
Income
1
sheltered
2018 £’000
leaseholders
18–34: 18%
Gains on revaluation
Notes
40
%
New loans taken out
Male 35-59: 46%
Existing loans repaid Money spent on build new homes and fixtures & fittings #
60+: 36% * #
Ethnicity
Over 70% of our running costs are used to make sure existing homes are maintained. We re-invest 100% of our surplus to build new homes.
Remunerations White British 91.37% African 0.8% Asian – Other 0.65% Bangledeshi 0.24% Black – Other 0.15% Caribbean 0.26% Chinese 0.17% Indian 0.22% Irish 0.66% Mixed – Other 0.27%
White – Other 3.8% Other 0.15% Pakistani 0.14% White and Asian 0.15% White and Black African 0.17% White and Black Caribbean 0.51% Prefer not to say 0.27%
Board members with portfolios are paid for the roles they perform. In 2017/18 the Chair was paid £9,996 and an ordinary Board member £3,956.
The Chief Executive was paid £144,275 (including benefits in kind but excluding pension contributions).
How we’re
run
Residents are involved throughout the organisation. Soha has a transparent co-regulation model that encourages residents to play a key role in shaping Soha’s services and performance and ensure it remains accountable. The National Housing Federation (NHF), the umbrella body for housing associations, produces a Code of Governance which Soha has signed up to and complies with. More information on Soha’s governance structure can be found at www.soha.co.uk/about-us
Find out more about becoming a member
Your say, your future Become a member We continue to put people at the heart of all we do. This year Soha became a mutualised organisation which means that tenants, shared owners and leaseholders can now apply to become members allowing them to take even more control of how Soha is run.
What membership means for you: Shape your future:
www.soha.co.uk/membership ri@soha.co.uk
0800 014 15 45 (Freephone) Fill in the £100 prize draw survey form before 12 November for us to contact you
Other information We are sending this publication to you as part of our commitment to ensure all tenants are kept up to date with the governance and management of Soha Housing. You are sent an annual paper copy even if you have signed up for e-newsletters or have previously opted not to receive any publications at all. As a sustainable environment is extremely important to Soha, this publication is printed on recycled paper. To sign up for our e-newsletters or for electronic versions of our Hometalk residents’ magazine, go to www.soha.co.uk Alternative formats of this publication are available on request. These can include large print, audio, alternative languages and electronic formats. Please contact us if this would be helpful.
Contact us Soha Housing, Royal Scot House, 99 Station Road, Didcot, OX11 7NN
• Have a say on priorities for your neighbourhood • Meet new and interesting people from your local community • Take ownership of Soha’s purpose and values • Have a vote on major organisational changes • Have a vote on appointing Board members • Have as much or as little involvement as you want Member-only benefits: • Exclusive membership offers, draws and events • Receive a welcome pack including membership card, pen and badge • Receive membership news Your commitment: • Members pay £1, which is the limit of your liability • Members must sign up to Soha’s purpose and values
01235 515 900 0800 014 15 45 (Freephone) housing@soha.co.uk | www.soha.co.uk Soha Housing
@SohaHousing
17027
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