Global InformationOnward Homes information
Onward (formerly Symphony Housing Group) is a housing association in North West England which manages 35,000 properties. Onward is based in Liverpool. Bronwen Rapley is the Chief Executive. In 2020 it moved its headquarters to the new Watson Building in Liverpool’s Renshaw Street. It also from Manchester’s Christie Fields.[1] Rob Loughenbury, former campaign manager for the Conservative Party, was appointed director of strategy in 2020 with a brief to contribute to the regional plans to ‘build back better’ in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, both as a social landlord and a housebuilder working across Liverpool, Manchester and Cheshire.[2]
Onward was formed as a merger in 2018 of five smaller associations - Contour Homes, Liverpool Housing Trust, Ribble Valley Homes, Hyndburn Homes and Peak Valley Housing Association. At that time it had about 800 staff and had plans to build more than 1,600 new homes over the next five years.[3]
It got an A1 credit rating with a ‘stable’ outlook from ratings agency Moody's Investors Service in February 2021, [4] and an award for Best Application of Tech in the Public Sector in December 2020. It conducted a rapid automated telephone survey of its tenants to identify the most vulnerable. 91% confirmed they were OK and 1,698 asked for assistance.[5]
Radon testing kits from Public Health England were supplied to 581 properties in Merseyside which are "located within a radon area" in 2020 in case remedial works were required.[6]
It was fined £80,000 for breaches of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 in December 2020 after four employees developed Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome from using vibrating power tools regularly.[7] The company pleaded guilty. [8]
There were complaints about how the firm dealt with reports of rat infestation at its properties in Rishton in 2020.[9] A family in Fairfield, Liverpool abandoned their property and were given temporary accommodation by the council when it was infested with mice. Onward said pest control was usually "the responsibility of the tenant" and claimed the family had "been unwilling to allow access to the property".[10] A tenant in Toxteth claimed that his flat was left to rot despite frequent complaints about leaking sewage and damp which caused his ceiling to collapse. He accused Onward Homes of behaviour in a 'patronising' way towards him and that conditions in his flat 'ripped [him] apart'. They put him in temporary accommodation while his flat was repaired. [11] Complaints to the Housing Ombudsman about the organisation increased from 35 and 39 in 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively, to 141 in 2019/20. The biggest growth was ‘property condition’ – the ombudsman’s umbrella term for repairs and maintenance issues. Onward Homes attributed the growth to their merger and a change in the repair contract.[12]
It supports the East Lancashire Homeless Families project[13] and the Speke Up project.[14]
- ^ "Onward makes its move". Place Northwest. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Onward appoints director of strategy". Place Northwest. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Five housing associations become Onward". Development Finance Today. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Large North West housing association achieves A1 credit rating". Inside Housing. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Onward Homes awarded for its tenant engagement response to Covid-19". Bdaily. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Nearly 600 homes to be tested for radioactive gas linked to lung cancer". Liverpool Echo. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Housing association fined £80,000 after employees suffer nerve damage". Inside Housing. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "England: Housing association sentenced after employees suffer debilitating nerve damage". Scottish Housing News. 22 December 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Rishton residents complain to Onward Homes about rat infestation". Lancashire Telegraph. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Little girl, eight, 'woke up screaming' after seeing something moving in her room". Liverpool Echo. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Desperate man's flat left with severe damp and leaking sewage despite years of complaints". Liverpool Echo. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "How are social landlords doing at responding to complaints?". Inside Housing. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Homeless families across East Lancashire to benefit from renewed support". In Your Area. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Community groups in Speke to receive £15k funding boost". The Guide Liverpool. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.