Shared Ownership housing providers, Abri and Poplar HARCA, have adopted the Shared Ownership Code, the code of practice designed to improve transparency, fairness and service quality for shared owners and prospective shared owners.
The adoptions mean that three housing providers have now committed to the Code, following LiveWest’s adoption last month. Together, they own and manage more than 8,500 shared ownership homes, which the NHQB, the operator of the Shared Ownership Code, says marks a considerable early step towards embedding higher, more consistent standards across the sector.
The Code aims to ensure customers benefit from a smoother and fairer experience from purchase through to living in their home; transparency on costs, responsibilities and processes; and stronger protections that go beyond current minimum standards.
Abri, one of southern England’s largest housing providers with over 59,000 homes, currently manages approximately 5,800 shared ownership homes and has completed more than 1,400 shared ownership sales in the past five years. Recently, it undertook a strategic review of its shared ownership customer experience that identified transparency and the consistency of information throughout the buyer journey as priorities for improvement, as prioritised within the Code.
Poplar HARCA owns and manages around 500 shared ownership homes across Tower Hamlets, where it is leading a £2.5billion regeneration programme to transform Poplar, with a pipeline of 33 new shared ownership homes planned over the next two years.
Natasha Greenwood, director of shared ownership at the New Homes Quality Board, said: “Abri and Poplar HARCA’s adoption of the Shared Ownership Code is an important moment for the sector. By adopting the Code, both organisations have demonstrated their commitment to giving shared homeowners better, clearer, and more consistent support.”
“Adoption is the start of a journey, and we will support providers at every stage. Following LiveWest’s adoption of the Code last month, we look forward to building on this momentum. We hope many more providers will follow their lead, helping to drive positive change across the sector.”
Stuart Hensby, sales and marketing director for Abri, commented: “At Abri, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Shared Ownership is a fantastic opportunity for people to step onto the housing ladder, but we know that the experience for shared owners across the sector can be improved. Adopting the Shared Ownership Code is an important step in helping us provide clearer information, stronger support and a better overall experience for our customers.”
“As part of our commitment, we have conducted our own strategic review of shared ownership, which has enhanced our processes and training to align with the Code. We’re proud to be part of a sector-wide effort to raise standards. By listening to customers and continuously improving our services, we can help ensure Shared Ownership remains a transparent, supportive and accessible route into home ownership.”
Paul Dooley, chief development officer at Poplar HARCA, added: “We’re delighted to be approved as a Code Adopter of the Shared Ownership Code, which reflects our commitment to being open, transparent and fair with our customers. It sets a clear standard for how we support shared owners at every stage, giving people confidence and reassurance when choosing a home with us. It’s part of how we continue building trust and doing right by the communities we serve.”
The Shared Ownership Code team are currently supporting seven other housing providers who have applied and are at various stages of the application process, and are actively engaged with the wider sector to drive adoption.
