Welcome to Housing Matters

In 2023, Broadland turned 60 years old. Our enduring purpose remains to provide good quality homes for the people of Norfolk, and North Suffolk. Over the years, we have recognised that our tenants need more from us than bricks and mortar, but also support in its different forms. I am gratified that as an organisation we have tried to live up to this huge task, especially in the times we have all been experiencing.

Whilst our budgets have been constrained more than ever this year, we did want to recognise and celebrate the significant achievement of turning 60, but also that we are a thriving organisation who still have the ambition to grow. Broadland’s purpose is more relevant today, 60 years later.

To celebrate the occasion, we held a 60th Anniversary celebration for our Members and tenants at our very first scheme in Shipfield, Norwich. It felt fitting to have the celebration at our very first scheme built. Our new Chair, Jenny Watson, joined us, along with some of our retired board members and past directors.

As well as this, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with one of our tenants who has been living in her Broadland home for over 43 years. She moved in when the house was brand new and has raised her family there since.

We also visited the progress on the building of 19 new net-zero operational carbon homes at Northrepps. Not only will these new homes provide people with the opportunity to stay local, but they will also significantly reduce fuel costs.

This year has seen a significant change in regulation and legislation. The Regulator of Social Housing has published its proposed new consumer standards, as well as the Tenant Satisfaction Measures.

Part of the Tenant Satisfaction Measures is the Tenant Perception Survey. We ran a successful pilot of the survey in May, allowing us insights to ensure we are communicating with our tenants the way they want us to. Following the pilot, we ran the survey in October. This received a fantastic response from our tenants. We are now getting the the measures ready to submit to the Regulator in April 2024.

We also completed 18 new homes in Great Hockham in partnership with Breckland Council. More homes are needed in our rural communities to help families live where they want to be.

I hope you enjoy reading about what else has been happening in this issue of Housing Matters.