THCH Powered by Hyde

We chose Hyde as a potential partner because our goals and values strongly align with their dedication to the community, locally focused services, and commitment to doing more.

A lot of consideration has gone into finding the right partner that will bring greater resilience and capacity to meet residents’ priorities. Hyde successfully met our criteria of:

• Financially strong
• Investing in quality and safe homes
• Investing in customer services
• Focused on improving neighbourhoods
• Efficient operations
• Ambitious development plans

THCH: Powered by Hyde means that the partnership will keep what’s good about THCH and its connection with the community but benefit from the resources available through a bigger housing association.

Hyde was chosen because it works closely with the communities it serves through a local neighbourhood’s approach. This means that communities have a dedicated Neighbourhood Officer and supporting team that really know the area and the community and are visible and accessible to residents. Most homes that Hyde provides are in a relatively small number of places, many of which are in London, like Islington, Lewisham, and Lambeth.

Through easy-to-use digital services, and other contact routes when residents have more complicated issues to get help with, THCH residents will also benefit from a more responsive repairs service that is run ‘in-house’, with a dedicated local team in Tower Hamlets.

Unlike the previous partnership we considered with Poplar HARCA, this one won't involve a transfer of engagements. If it moves forward, THCH will join the Hyde Group as a subsidiary, and your landlord won’t change. If this decision is reviewed at a later date, residents will be consulted with.

Hyde is dedicated to gathering feedback from customers to keep improving its services. You can review their satisfaction measures here.

Yes, ahead of the formal agreement of the partnership, Hyde has provided financial support to help us speed up investment into residents’ homes and communities. This allows us to move forward more quickly with projects like building safety remediation projects, installing new kitchens and bathrooms, and consulting residents on communal upgrades.

This support is in the form of a loan, agreed on commercial terms, and is not dependent on the partnership being finalised. If it doesn’t go ahead, THCH has a separate plan in place to continue operating while looking for an alternative partner. However, in that case, some of the accelerated projects may need to be postponed.

An in-house repairs team provides a more efficient, responsive, and accountable service. Hyde introduced its own repairs team in 2022, which has led to quicker repair times and improved quality of the work by removing the reliance on external contractors.

Introducing an in-house repairs team for THCH will enhance our services by enabling faster response times, offering greater flexibility with appointment scheduling, achieving long-term cost savings through better budget management, and ensuring improved communication and direct accountability from THCH.

We’re aiming to legally complete the partnership and join Hyde in April 2025 to align with the start of the new financial year. This will make it easier to plan and budget right from the beginning and gives us time to make sure everything is set up properly – ensuring a smooth and thoughtful transition for everyone involved.

Hyde is a strong, stable organisation with G1 and V2 ratings for governance and viability from the Regulator of Social Housing. Its strong credit ratings position it well to directly invest in resident homes and community spaces.

Before the decision to move forward was made, the Boards reviewed extensive due diligence reports of both organisations’ finances, governance, and performance, and considered a strong business case involving additional investment into homes and communities over the first three years of the partnership.

All THCH residents were given the opportunity to share their views on the ‘THCH: Powered by Hyde’ partnership proposal through a formal consultation. The survey was widely promoted via multiple channels, including emails, text messages, e-newsletters, letters, web pages, pop-ups, noticeboards, leaflets, a video featuring THCH residents and the CEO, as well as direct face-to-face engagement through door-knocking.

A total of 249 residents (8%) from 95 residential blocks (50%) participated in the consultation. Of those who responded, 41% had neutral views, 27% were positive, and 32% were negative. Residents also provided additional insights through optional free text feedback, with general themes indicating that many see the partnership as a chance to improve services and strengthen THCH's presence in the community. Above all, the feedback highlighted the need to rebuild trust with residents and deliver tangible changes through the partnership.

The results were reviewed by THCH’s Resident Voice Panel before being presented to the Board for the final decision.

Once THCH officially joins the Hyde Group, Andy Hulme, Hyde’s current CEO, will take on the role of leading the combined organisation. Anita Khan will be leaving THCH to pursue a new opportunity.

All THCH employees will be protected by TUPE rights as part of the transition.