Heart of Medway welcomes more customers

mhs homes' registered subsidiary, Heart of Medway Housing Association, has bought 54 tenanted properties in Gillingham and Chatham from Notting Hill Housing Trust at a cost of £3.2 million.

One of the reasons for setting up the Heart of Medway Housing Association as a registered provider subsidiary was to support growth – either by building more new homes with grant, or by taking on properties from other housing associations.

Notting Hill Housing Trust, a London-based association, wanted to transfer its Medway tenants to a more locally-based provider. As Medway’s largest housing provider mhs homes owns and manages more than 8,000 homes in the Medway Towns and is geared up to manage the homes.

The transfer of the properties was subject to consultation with tenants and consent from the Homes & Communities Agency before the purchase was completed.

The properties, 18 in Chatham and 36 in Gillingham and Rainham will be managed as part of our normal operations. Caroline Proverbs, Operations Director said: "We are delighted to have been successful in the acquisition of these homes. We visited every household to meet the residents, offer any advice they needed and to identify any special service requirements they have. This information helped us to provide a good service from the first day the homes were transferred to us."

Matthew Cornwall-Jones, Project Director from Notting Hill Housing Trust said, "The transfer of our stock in Medway to mhs homes is a positive outcome for all involved. We consider mhs homes is better placed to maintain and improve service delivery to local residents. Notting Hill housing is delighted with the outcome."

Mrs Susan Bunger who has lived in Chatham for thirty years and has been a tenant of Five Ways Court, for eight years said: "I was pleased when I heard that Heart of Medway Housing Association was taking over our flats. I had heard of mhs homes before because I have got a friend who lives in one of their homes and she never has anything bad to say about them. The lady who came to visit us was a really nice person who took the time to explain everything to us. So, for us it makes sense. mhs homes is well-established with a good track record. The transfer of the homes to a locally-based landlord who is able to deliver a quick and responsive service for us residents will mean better value for money and is a win-win situation all round."