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 56,000 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.

Newcastle Swing Bridge 1935

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.

River Rye

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.

Reading Bridge

1980s

Going national

Following on from the earlier expansion, Home Group increases its presence to also include the south of England.

Edinburgh Castle

1990s

Further growth

Home Group merges with three similar organisations, including Warden, Stonham and Cleghorn in Scotland.

Housing Construction Model

1997

Paramount Homes

Home Group’s market rent subsidiary 'Paramount Homes' forms, later going on to be known as 'Live Smart @ Home'.

Outside of Home Group's office with teal sofas and Home Group logo

1998

Home Group, finally

After several name changes, including 'Industrial' and 'Provident Society' in 1980, Home Group Ltd is finally settled on.

Customers at Douglas Bader Park regeneration exhibition,

2003

Further merger

Yorkshire-based Nashayman Housing, a Black and Minority Ethnic housing association, becomes part of Home Group.

St Cuthbert's Cumbria semi detached home

2004

Copeland Homes

Following a large-scale voluntary transfer of homes from Copeland Borough Council, Copeland Homes forms as a subdivision of Home Group.

Two customers from out homelessness service smiling and laughing.

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.

Spectrum three bedroom house

2012

Standout developments

Rayners Lane in London is completed and becomes an exemplar for the London School of Economics’ Regeneration Framework.

Three of our apprentices laughing.

2013

Living our Values

The award-winning Living our Values colleague programme launches and revolutionises Home Group’s approach to workplace culture.

Gateshead Innovation Village site model

2018

Great ideas

Gateshead Innovation Village is envisioned as part of the Great Exhibition of the North held in Newcastle.

Pompadour estate house external

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.

Gateshead Innovation Village conference

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.

Customer engagement meeting

2019

Customer promise

With its customers, Home Group develops its customer promise; providing a set of guiding statements to measure its performance against.

Repair colleague sat with a customer in their home.

2019 and 2020

Landlord of the Year

Home Group was voted Landlord of the Year in the UK Housing Awards in 2019 and 2020.

Gardening plants

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.

One Strawberry Lane Exterior At Night

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 56,000 homes in England and Scotland, which includes around 12,000 people with mental and physical health issues.

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Channelle, a Home Group colleague and customer smiling while working.

We're hiring

Whether you're looking for full time, part time or even casual working hours to fit around your other commitments, we're recruiting now.

Office cafeteria

Information for journalists

Information for journalists, bloggers and online commentators about Home Group.

Home Group customers chatting with a housing manager in their home

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.

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