We’re pleased to share Silva will join the Abri Group next month

In March we shared the possibility of Silva Homes, another charitable, registered provider of social housing, joining the Abri Group as a subsidiary. We asked you what you thought about our proposals for Silva joining the Abri Group and what matters most in terms of the services you get from your housing provider.   

More than 130 of you – mostly those living in Bracknell, Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor, Woking and surrounding areas - shared what you thought about our proposals for Silva to join the group.   

We’re now pleased to be able to officially announce that Silva will legally join Abri at the end of this month, and we'll be welcoming them to the Abri Group from the start of October. This is a positive step as it’ll allow us to invest more in existing homes and neighbourhoods, develop more new homes in the area and make improvements to the services you receive.    

What will change?  

From October, we’ll implement a new regional approach with a locally based managing director, regional board and customer panel. Dasos Christou has been appointed regional managing director for the south east area and 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. We’ll soon be appointing new regional managing directors for the other two regions – the south and the south west - which will make up the new structure of the group.  

We’re in the final stages of recruiting members to our south east regional board, who will hold us accountable for making improvements to services in the best interest of those who live in the region. Keep an eye out for more on how to join our new regional boards in the south and the south east regions, soon.   

What will the regions focus on?  

Joining forces will create efficiency savings which we'll invest in service improvements in the area where you live. We’ll be investing in your neighbourhoods as well as making improvements to the services you receive, based on what matters most to you.   

When we asked you for your views on the proposals, you also told 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   

What will change from October?  

As Abri customers, if you live in the south east, you won’t “see” much of a difference. Our branded material, like the vans on the road, won’t change, and it’ll be the same colleagues you know working in your communities.   

But our ambition is to improve our overall service offer. We’ll have more trades available to fix repairs and turn around empty homes more quickly, a larger team to focus on customer service, and additional activities and services for the local community, and more support for things like anti-social behaviour and complaints. 

How can I learn more?  

We’ll keep you updated on everything you need to know on MyAbri and in our next edition of The Hub. If you have any burning questions we’ve not covered in this update, you can email us hello@abri.co.uk or call us on 0300 123 1567. 

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 is focused on creating homes and communities and supporting people. You can find out more about Silva here: www.silvahomes.co.uk.   

Why is this a good move?  

Considering the unique financial position facing the housing sector currently, including the rate of inflation, interest rates and energy costs, both 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 will this mean for my tenancy or my lease?  

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

What will this mean for my community?  

This kind of growth means our organisation will 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 under our new, regional approach.  

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.  

Will my landlord change?  

No, there will be no change to your landlord.   

Will I still have the same housing partner?  

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

Will the same support and community services be available?  

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

Will the same trades carry out my repairs?  

There won’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 will remain responsible for repairs and maintaining their own homes unless there are agreements in place for us to carry these out.

Will it take longer to carry out my repair?  

No! This means we’ll have more people available to carry out repairs in the south east area, which is intended to improve our repairs turnaround time.  

Will we see the changes to charges?  

There won’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 will 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.