Our history
Discover how we got started in housing and some of our key milestones over the years.
Home Group is a housing association with a difference.
As one of the UK’s largest providers of housing, health and care, Home Group has been making a difference to people’s lives since 1935. Created in the north east but now with a presence in England and Scotland, Home Group support over 125,000 customers across more than 55,000 homes.
Home Group is a social enterprise that supports some of the most vulnerable in society, including people with mental and physical health issues. For over 80 years, they’ve been on a mission to build homes, independence, and aspirations - and they're as determined today as when they started.
1935
Home Group is formed
Set up as 'The Northern Eastern Housing Association' to help people during The Great Depression, Home Group becomes the only housing association formed by an Act of Parliament.
1970s
Home Group expands
After starting life solely in the north of England, Home Group expands to include Yorkshire and the midlands and sees its number of properties increase to 19,000.
1980s
Going national
Following on from the earlier expansion, Home Group increases its presence to also include the south of England.
1990s
Further growth
Home Group merges with three similar organisations, including Warden, Stonham and Cleghorn in Scotland.
1997
Paramount Homes
Home Group’s market rent subsidiary 'Paramount Homes' forms, later going on to be known as 'Live Smart @ Home'.
1998
Home Group, finally
After several name changes, including 'Industrial' and 'Provident Society' in 1980, Home Group Ltd is finally settled on.
2003
Further merger
Yorkshire-based Nashayman Housing, a Black and Minority Ethnic housing association, becomes part of Home Group.
2004
Copeland Homes
Following a large-scale voluntary transfer of homes from Copeland Borough Council, Copeland Homes forms as a subdivision of Home Group.
2004
Charitable status
Home Group adopts charitable status.
2009
New direction
Home Group wins a major contract with the government to offer bail accommodation and support services.
2011
Customer support
Home Group launches its dedicated customer contact centre to improve support for customers.
2012
Standout developments
Rayners Lane in London is completed and becomes an exemplar for the London School of Economics’ Regeneration Framework.
2013
Living our Values
The award-winning Living our Values colleague programme launches and revolutionises Home Group’s approach to workplace culture.
2018
Great ideas
Gateshead Innovation Village is envisioned as part of the Great Exhibition of the North held in Newcastle.
2018
Persona Homes launches
Persona Homes launches with the ambition to build quality, outright sales and shared ownership homes, with all profits reinvested back into Home Group.
2019
Innovation in housing
Home Group hosts a national conference to celebrate the launch of Gateshead Innovation Village, a unique research project looking at new ways of building housing.
2019
Customer promise
With its customers, Home Group develops its customer promise; providing a set of guiding statements to measure its performance against.
2019 and 2020
Landlord of the Year
Home Group was voted Landlord of the Year in the UK Housing Awards in 2019 and 2020.
2021
Home Group becomes a founding member of Greener Futures Partnership
Home Group, alongside five of the UK largest not-for-profit social housing providers, launches The Greener Futures Partnership to create sustainable tenancies, homes and communities.
2023
Home Group moves into One Strawberry Lane.
After over four years of planning and excitement Home Group moves into its new home at One Strawberry Lane.
Where we are now
Home Group is one of the UK’s largest providers of housing, health and care. Our colleagues support over 125,000 customers across more than 55,000 homes in England and Scotland, which includes around 12,000 people with mental and physical health issues.
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Whether you're looking for full time, part time or even casual working hours to fit around your other commitments, we're recruiting now.
Information for journalists
Information for journalists, bloggers and online commentators about Home Group.
How to volunteer
There are lots of ways our customers can get involved, have their say, and make a real difference to their communities. If you’ve seen something you’d like to get involved with then we'd love to hear from you.