Housing associations and co-operatives

Housing Associations, also known as Registered Social landlords (RSLs), are voluntary sector organisations that have been registered and approved by the Housing Corporation to own, manage and provide social housing.

Housing Associations provide accommodation to people who by and large cannot afford to rent privately; in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, tenants will be people nominated from the Housing Register by the Council. Some housing associations provide supported accommodation for say, older people, who have particular support needs. On average, about 30 new social housing units are built each year.

Their funding for building new social housing is a mix of mortgage borrowing supported by rents they charge their tenants, and social housing grants from the Housing Corporation and local councils such as Richmond upon Thames.  At present, there are over 20 Housing Associations active within the borough of Richmond upon Thames.

The Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) page provides further details about the various RSLs operating within the borough.