North Somerset Housing Overview

North Somerset Housing (NSH) was set up in February 2006 to receive the transfer of North Somerset Council’s housing stock of over 6,000 homes.

Transferring the homes to the newly created NSH has meant that additional investment has been secured to carry out the repairs and improvement needed to develop a higher quality, well-managed housing service at a reasonable rent.

We are a not-for-profit independent local housing association (sometimes known as a Registered Social Landlord) with charitable status. We are not permitted to trade for profit, any surplus generated is spent on improvements to homes and services or repaying loans - surpluses cannot be distributed to shareholders or any other persons.

Having been in existence for just over two years, we’re still shaping our future and developing each day, so why not join us and shape your future too!

What are the vision and values of NSH?

North Somerset Housing's vision is to provide:

  • Smarter Business
  • Better Homes
  • Stronger Communities 

 

The focus on Smarter Business relates to improving our services and being good at what we do. The primary emphasis of Better Homes is on developing and maintaining our properties to the standards that our residents want. Stronger Communities is all about the lives and circumstances of real people in the local community, ensuring we create a place where want to live

The organisation’s vision is supported by a set of values, which are:

  • Delivery
  • Achievement
  • Creativity
  • Inclusiveness
  • Integrity
  • Support

How are we doing?

As a newly formed Housing Association we have not yet been rated by the Audit Commission but we have undergone an assessment by the Housing Corporation where we were given three green lights for proper governance, financial viability, and effective management.

In its report, the Housing Corporation said “Overall the association has made good progress in the viability and financial issues it has faced since transfer. Over the first year of operation, the Board has closely monitored delivery of the corporate plan and the promises made to tenants at transfer. The association’s reports indicate a very good performance against both of these key areas of operation. Our judgement is that the management team has worked well together over the last year to enable it to meet its targets and meet the promises to tenants.”

Who runs NSH?

We are run by a Board of Management with 15 Board members representing a broad cross-section of local and professional interests. They are made up of North Somerset Council nominees, tenants and independent local business people. There is also one leasehold co-optee.

The Board employs paid staff to run the housing service on a day-to-day basis. The Chief Executive, Clive Bodley, reports directly to the Board and is assisted by an Executive Team comprising:

  • Director of Finance, Mike Nicholls
  • Director of Operations, Steve Chinn
  • Director of Assets, Steve Drew
  • Director of Human Resources, Helen Gwynne

What services does NSH provide?

We provide landlord services to our tenants and leaseholders and can offer a wide variety of roles in a variety of areas. We are split into five directorates: Finance and IT, HR, Chief Executive, Operations and Assets.

Assets

The Property & Asset Management Directorate looks after the management of NSH’s property portfolio including asset sales, procurement solutions, policy development and investment planning. It is split into 2 areas:

  • Responsive repairs
    Who deal with the day to day responsive repairs service; repairs to void properties; cyclical external decorating programme; adaptations for disabled residents; assisted internal decoration and gardening schemes; grounds maintenance; and estate regeneration works
  • Major Works
    Who are responsible for delivery of capital works contracts and improvement programmes; arrange for statutory health and safety inspections for gas and electrical installations; maintenance and management of building repairs to leasehold dwellings; manage leasehold sheltered scheme properties on behalf of North Somerset Council; maintain the asset database; administer the right to buy process for eligible residents; and major estate improvements

 

The Chief Executive runs a small team that is responsible for service development, performance management, regulation, communications,,and strategic projects.

The Human Resources team is led by the HR Director, and is responsible for recruitment, selection, training and other staffing and office facilities issues

The Director of Finance leads the Finance Team who are responsible for treasury management, budgeting, payment of invoices and rent accounting. He also is responsible for the IT team who provide support for all the organisation’s IT equipment and systems.

The Operations Directorate is the largest directorate in the organisation and is responsible for our area offices, housing management, rent collection, anti-social behaviour advice, neighbourhood development, sheltered accommodation, the floating support service and temporary accommodation.

  • Sheltered Housing Service
    The Sheltered Support Team is responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of North Somerset Housing sheltered accommodation. They offer housing-related support services to residents to enable them to continue to live independently at home. They also maintain regular contact with residents to ensure their safety and welfare, as detailed in resident support plans.
  • Temporary Accommodation and Support Service
    The team provides temporary accommodation for homeless households and victims of domestic abuse units across the district and assist in the resettlement process to more permanent accommodation. They provide a furniture package to eligible Assured Tenants of North Somerset Housing and deliver a housing related support and a training package to care leavers. This covers basic life skills, the responsibilities of running a home and being a good tenant.
  • Floating Support Service
    The team provides housing-related support to vulnerable people to help maintain independence and prevent tenancy failure, they provide support and advice on a wide range of issues including resettlement and establishing a tenancy, neighbour problems, finance and budgeting, accessing education/training, health/social services and safety and security.
  • Housing Services
    Each of our Area Offices provides tenancy and estate management services to their designated areas across the district. They are the initial point of contact for customers including the receipt of rent and other payments.
  • Communities Plus Team
    The Communities Plus Team helps to develop the local community by tackling the wider issues in the area. This includes tackling anti-social behaviour, developing community projects and listening to local residents’ needs. They also help the North Somerset Housing to consult with residents about the services we provide and how we could make improvements.

In Business for Neighbourhoods

North Somerset Housing is a member of the ‘in Business for Neighbourhoods Campaign’. iNbiz as it is known, is an alliance of over 600 housing associations working together to create good neighbourhoods across the country.

We are committed to putting neighbourhoods and residents at the heart of everything we do, creating communities for everyone by listening to everyone. We will do all we can to tackle poor behaviour and bad neighbours. We will always strive to improve, to become the landlord, employer and partner of choice.

Where does NSH operate?

We operate in the North Somerset district, which is located in the South West of the country on the M5 corridor.

We have three area offices located in Worle, Weston-super-Mare and Portishead.

Our main office is in Portishead and we have one other administrative base in Worle.
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