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Proposals for Settle and Paradigm to form a new housing association
We believe that by working together we would be able to provide better services to residents and invest more in our communities.
Our resident consultation has now closed. Thank you for all of the feedback we have received. This will all be taken into account when our Boards make the decision later in the summer about whether to go ahead with the proposals.
More details about the proposal
Matthew Bailes, Chief Executive at Paradigm, and Rod Cahill, Interim Chief Executive at Settle
We're exploring a possible partnership with another housing association called Paradigm Housing Group – this means we would join together to form a new merged Group.
Paradigm Housing Group is a housing association with almost 17,000 homes mainly in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Settle Group has over 10,000 homes across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and South Cambridgeshire.
You can still read background to the proposals and our FAQs below.
More details about the proposal
We're exploring a possible partnership with another housing association called Paradigm Housing Group - this means we would join together to form a new merged Group.
Paradigm Housing Group is a housing association with almost 17,000 homes mainly in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Settle Group has over 10,000 homes across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and South Cambridgeshire.
At the time we announced our proposals to merge, Paradigm also announced their intention to buy almost 3,500 homes in South Buckinghamshire from the housing association L&Q.
This means that the new organisation formed through the merger between Settle and Paradigm, would own and manage over 30,000 homes and would be the largest housing association working in the region.
We believe that by joining together we could provide better services to residentsand invest more in our communities.
Why we chose Paradigm
We have a lot in common, including where our homes are based. We wanted to partner with an organisation that shares our vision and values. Like Settle, Paradigm understands the importance of remaining rooted in local communities.We both believe in excellent services and working closely with residents to improve services. And we both want to build more homes to address the housing crisis. We are both committed to providing repairs and ASB services that residents really value.
Benefits of the proposed merger
By joining together we would:
be able to provide better value for money by working more efficiently and cost-effectively
be big enough to cope with challenges such as improving the energy performance of our homes
be able to build more affordable homes to help address the housing crisis
be able to combine resources to have more impact in our communities and to make significant improvements to a number of our estates
develop better partnerships with organisations to support residents
combine the in-house repairs teams in both organisations to carry out more repairs and investment in homes ourselves.
Potential disadvantages of the proposed merger
We strongly believe that a single, bigger organisation would allow us to do more of the things that matter to you. This proposal is at an early stage, but we know there is a lot of work involved in joining two organisations together. It's important that this doesn't distract us from delivering excellent services and we will do everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen. While work and resources will be required in the short-term to deliver the merger, we are confident that there will be a number of benefits for residents in the longer term.
How we propose to join together
The final decision to go ahead would only be made following consultation with our residents and final Board approval from both organisations.
The next step would then be to form a legal partnership which we propose would complete by late Autumn 2025. At that point your landlord would not change, and you would continue to be a resident of Settle, within the new group structure.
We would then work on integrating our two businesses (Settle and Paradigm) which might take up to 18 months, at which point your landlord might change, if Settle and Paradigm Homes Charitable Housing Association (Paradigm) were to fully merge together as a result of a process called a ‘Transfer of Engagements.’
What this would mean for you
Until any full legal merger of Settle and Paradigm Homes, your landlord would remain as Settle. If the proposal goes ahead, and even if your landlord does change the following would remain:
Your right to live in your home would stay the same
The rent and service charges you pay would stay the same, aside from the annual increase made in line with the guidance set by the Government (in line with inflation)
If you are a shared owner or leaseholder, the terms of your lease and the services you receive would stay the same.
So, if the proposal goes ahead, nothing would change with your tenancy agreement, rent (which would still be increased in the same way it is now), or rights as a tenant. We will still be providing services as usual while we explore the partnership. You should still contact Settle with any issues including repairs, anti-social behaviour and for any support you need.
If the proposal goes ahead, the longer-term plan would be for Settle and Paradigm Homes to legally merge together, to form one charitable housing association. This would be in up to 18 months’ time and we would provide more details closer to that time.
We are looking carefully at the consequences of this proposal and through a process known as due diligence we will ensure that the merger would be of no material detriment to our residents.
We believe that by working together we would be able to provide better services to residents and invest more in our communities.
Our resident consultation has now closed. Thank you for all of the feedback we have received. This will all be taken into account when our Boards make the decision later in the summer about whether to go ahead with the proposals.
More details about the proposal
Matthew Bailes, Chief Executive at Paradigm, and Rod Cahill, Interim Chief Executive at Settle
We're exploring a possible partnership with another housing association called Paradigm Housing Group – this means we would join together to form a new merged Group.
Paradigm Housing Group is a housing association with almost 17,000 homes mainly in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Settle Group has over 10,000 homes across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and South Cambridgeshire.
You can still read background to the proposals and our FAQs below.
More details about the proposal
We're exploring a possible partnership with another housing association called Paradigm Housing Group - this means we would join together to form a new merged Group.
Paradigm Housing Group is a housing association with almost 17,000 homes mainly in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Settle Group has over 10,000 homes across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and South Cambridgeshire.
At the time we announced our proposals to merge, Paradigm also announced their intention to buy almost 3,500 homes in South Buckinghamshire from the housing association L&Q.
This means that the new organisation formed through the merger between Settle and Paradigm, would own and manage over 30,000 homes and would be the largest housing association working in the region.
We believe that by joining together we could provide better services to residentsand invest more in our communities.
Why we chose Paradigm
We have a lot in common, including where our homes are based. We wanted to partner with an organisation that shares our vision and values. Like Settle, Paradigm understands the importance of remaining rooted in local communities.We both believe in excellent services and working closely with residents to improve services. And we both want to build more homes to address the housing crisis. We are both committed to providing repairs and ASB services that residents really value.
Benefits of the proposed merger
By joining together we would:
be able to provide better value for money by working more efficiently and cost-effectively
be big enough to cope with challenges such as improving the energy performance of our homes
be able to build more affordable homes to help address the housing crisis
be able to combine resources to have more impact in our communities and to make significant improvements to a number of our estates
develop better partnerships with organisations to support residents
combine the in-house repairs teams in both organisations to carry out more repairs and investment in homes ourselves.
Potential disadvantages of the proposed merger
We strongly believe that a single, bigger organisation would allow us to do more of the things that matter to you. This proposal is at an early stage, but we know there is a lot of work involved in joining two organisations together. It's important that this doesn't distract us from delivering excellent services and we will do everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen. While work and resources will be required in the short-term to deliver the merger, we are confident that there will be a number of benefits for residents in the longer term.
How we propose to join together
The final decision to go ahead would only be made following consultation with our residents and final Board approval from both organisations.
The next step would then be to form a legal partnership which we propose would complete by late Autumn 2025. At that point your landlord would not change, and you would continue to be a resident of Settle, within the new group structure.
We would then work on integrating our two businesses (Settle and Paradigm) which might take up to 18 months, at which point your landlord might change, if Settle and Paradigm Homes Charitable Housing Association (Paradigm) were to fully merge together as a result of a process called a ‘Transfer of Engagements.’
What this would mean for you
Until any full legal merger of Settle and Paradigm Homes, your landlord would remain as Settle. If the proposal goes ahead, and even if your landlord does change the following would remain:
Your right to live in your home would stay the same
The rent and service charges you pay would stay the same, aside from the annual increase made in line with the guidance set by the Government (in line with inflation)
If you are a shared owner or leaseholder, the terms of your lease and the services you receive would stay the same.
So, if the proposal goes ahead, nothing would change with your tenancy agreement, rent (which would still be increased in the same way it is now), or rights as a tenant. We will still be providing services as usual while we explore the partnership. You should still contact Settle with any issues including repairs, anti-social behaviour and for any support you need.
If the proposal goes ahead, the longer-term plan would be for Settle and Paradigm Homes to legally merge together, to form one charitable housing association. This would be in up to 18 months’ time and we would provide more details closer to that time.
We are looking carefully at the consequences of this proposal and through a process known as due diligence we will ensure that the merger would be of no material detriment to our residents.
If you have any questions you’d like us to address during the Face to Face events, you can submit them here ahead of time. We’ll do our best to cover them on the day.
Would my landlord/freeholder change if the proposal goes ahead, and would there be changes to my tenancy/lease agreement?
3 months ago
There would be no immediate transfer of the ownership of your home and no change to the terms of your tenancy or lease. Settle would continue to be your landlord, but Settle would become part of the merged group structure, as a subsidiary of Paradigm until further integration of the new merged group is complete. You would continue to pay your rent and service charges to Settle following legal completion.Once integration is completed your landlord/freeholder may change but the terms and conditions of your lease would remain. We will consult with you further about any proposed change to your landlord/freeholder in due course.
If approved, when would the proposals take effect?
3 months ago
Legal completion of the partnership is planned for late Autumn 2025. That is the point where we would legally become one group. There would then bea period of time to integrate services to function as one organisation. Typically, this takes 12 to 18 months post legal completion.
Would my rent or service charges be affected?
3 months ago
No. The way your rent and service charges are calculated will remain the same. We would continue to review charges every year, as we do at the moment, in line with your current tenancy agreement or lease.
Would there be a change to how I pay?
3 months ago
You would be able to continue to pay your rent and service charges to Settle in the way that you do now. We would tell you nearer the time about any changes you need to make to the payee’s details.
What about the right to buy/acquire?
3 months ago
If you already have the right to buy or acquire, you would not lose the right and you would continue to be able to exercise the right in the same way as before.
Will I have the same contact at Settle?
3 months ago
There would be no changes to how we manage your home at the moment. Settle colleagues will continue to provide services to you. Over time, as we introduce improvements, staffing arrangements may change but we will always make sure you know who any new contacts are.
Would the way I contact you change?
3 months ago
No. You will continue to contact us in the same ways that you normally do. Email addresses and telephone numbers may change in time but we will make sure any changes are communicated with you in advance of any changes.
How would residents be able to influence the way the new group operates?
3 months ago
Both Settle and Paradigm work closely with resident groups who actively help shape our services by sharing their feedback. In our survey about these proposals, we have included a section under your priorities, where we are asking for your feedback on your priorities for investment in future service improvements. We also ask if you would be interested in getting involved in shaping what the new group, and its resident engagement mechanisms, look like.
What will it mean for me if the partnership goes ahead?
3 months ago
The important things to note are:
Your right to live in your home would stay the same
The rent and any service charges you pay and the way future charges are calculated would also stay the same, with annual increases made in line with the guidance set by the Government (in line with inflation)
If you are a shared owner or leaseholder, the terms of your lease would stay the same.
If the partnership goes ahead, the new organisation would have 30,000 homes, mainly in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Our aim is to be larger but to retain our local focus.
What are the benefits of a partnership?
3 months ago
We have set out some reasons in the background to these proposals but also:
We would be able to build more new homes to help address the housing crisis in the areas where we work, where the cost of housing is high
We would develop better partnerships with organisations to support residents
We would become a more significant local employer, giving us improved ability to recruit, retain and develop skilled staff at every level and lean on support from the wider group.
Proposals for Settle and Paradigm to form a new housing association has finished this stage
This consultation is open for contributions for six weeks, closing on Sunday 8th June.
Under Review
Proposals for Settle and Paradigm to form a new housing association is currently at this stage
Contributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review.
Our Board are currently reviewing your responses, and we'll be sharing a summary of your feedback on our website and here on Settle Connect.
Final Decision
this is an upcoming stage for Proposals for Settle and Paradigm to form a new housing association
The final outcomes of the consultation are documented here and on our website. This may include a summary of all contributions collected as well as recommendations for future action.
Thank you for your contribution!
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