Thank you for sharing your views on our proposal for Silva to join the Abri Group

A reminder about why Abri and Silva are thinking of joining together

Silva Homes, like Abri, is a charitable, registered provider of social housing. Both organisations feel that they share the same objectives and culture. Both Abri and Silva believe that joining together will enable the combined organisation to invest more in existing homes and neighbourhoods, develop more new homes in the area and make improvements to the services you receive.

Should the proposals go ahead, we’ll implement a new regional approach with a locally based managing director, regional board and customer panel. The managing director will lead on service delivery and the regional board will be accountable to customers in the region on all the issues that are important to you.

Abri and Silva propose that the first new region to be established is in the area where you live. This would be referred to as our south east region and represent the area around Windsor and Bracknell. Joining forces will create efficiency savings which we will invest in service improvements in the area where you live.

You told us what matters most to you

More than 130 of you told us what you thought about our proposals for Silva to join the Abri Group. Some shared our optimism about making improvements to services. For others, the main worry was that a larger company would feel less personal.

We’re confident it wouldn’t be like that as the proposal would mean investing in your neighbourhoods as well as making improvements to the services you receive, based on what matters most to you.

As well as telling us what you thought about Silva joining Abri, we asked you what you’d like to prioritise in the following areas:

• Improving the energy efficiency of homes
• Improving repairs and maintenance services
• Improving the safety of homes
• Reducing inequality and poverty in communities
• Creating better neighbourhoods and communities

The top priorities you told us about were speed of repairs, reducing anti-social behaviour and cleanliness and maintenance of our schemes. You also shared our ambition to make our homes more energy efficient.

What’s happening next?

There’s lots happening behind the scenes right now, and a joint board made up of Abri and Silva representatives will meet later this summer. The business case for Silva to join Abri is being worked on, which will include your feedback on our proposal.

The decision on whether the proposal will be approved or not will be made in late-September or early-October. If Silva do join Abri, nothing will change immediately, and we’ll keep you updated on the next stages.

We've updated our FAQs about our proposal following your feedback

Who are Silva Homes? 

Silva Homes operates in and around Bracknell and has around 10,000 homes and assets, 14,000 customers and 250 employees. Like Abri, Silva are focused on creating homes and communities and supporting people. You can find out more about Silva here: www.silvahomes.co.uk.   

Why is Silva proposing to join the Abri Group? 

Considering the unique financial position facing the housing sector at this time, including the rate of inflation, interest rates and energy costs, both the Boards have decided that Silva joining Abri, as a subsidiary, is in the best interests of customers, colleagues and the businesses. It will enable us to continue to deliver improvements to homes and improve services for our customers. 

What would this mean for my tenancy or my lease? 

There would be no changes for your tenancy or your tenancy agreement, or your lease or lease agreement with us. 

What would this mean for my community? 

This kind of growth means our organisation would have more to invest in our existing homes and neighbourhoods, develop more new homes in your community and make improvements to the services you receive. 

Will I still receive the same local, quality services? 

Yes, and we’ll invest to improve it further. By bringing both organisations together we will commit to reinvesting efficiency savings on service improvements and things that will benefit you where you live. 

Would my landlord change? 

No, there would be no change to your landlord.  

Will your contact details change? 

No, Abri customers would still call our main telephone numbers. This is 0300 123 1567 for customers in the south and 0300 330 9434 for customers in the south west. Abri customers can message us through My Abri and email hello@abri.co.uk. 

Would I still have the same housing partner? 

There wouldn’t be any immediate changes, but if there are any changes to colleagues working in your area, we’ll let you know. 

Would the same trades carry out my repairs? 

There wouldn’t be any immediate changes, but if there are any changes to colleagues carrying out work in your home, we’ll let you know. Shared owners and other leaseholders would remain responsible for repairs and maintaining their own homes, unless there are agreements in place for us to carry these out. 

Would the same support and community services be available? 

There wouldn’t be any immediate changes, but if we change the services we offer, we’ll let you know. 

Would it take longer to carry out my repair? 

No! These proposals are designed to improve our service to you, for example, together Abri and Silva will have more people available to carry out repairs in the south east area. 

Will we see the changes to charges? 

There wouldn’t be any immediate changes, but if we change the services we offer, we’ll let you know. 

Does this mean less housing will be available or more will be built in the area?  

This kind of growth means our organisation would have more to invest in our existing homes and neighbourhoods, develop more new homes in your community and make improvements to the services you receive.  

When will this happen? 

There’s lots happening behind the scenes right now, and a joint board made up of Abri and Silva representatives will meet later this summer. The business case for Silva to join Abri is being worked on, which will include your feedback on our proposal. The decision on whether the proposal will be approved or not will be made in late-September or early-October. If Silva do join Abri, nothing will change immediately, and we’ll keep you updated on the next stages.   

Will there be opportunities for customers to get involved with the changes? 

Yes – both Silva and Abri are committed to involving customers in the way services are shaped, improved and delivered.  There will be opportunities for customers to be involved in decision-making and we’ll share these opportunities over the coming months.  

Your views are important  

We're still keen to hear your comments on this proposal. Please tell us what you think by getting in touch to let us know your thoughts. 

You can: 

• Call us on 0300 123 1567 (south) or 0300 330 9434 (south west) 

• Email us at hello@abri.co.uk 

• Talk to us via LiveChat using My Abri