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Welsh housing associations agree merger ‘in principle’
Two Welsh housing associations have confirmed their intention to merge after opening talks 12 months ago.
Tai Ceredigion and Mid-Wales Housing, which own 2,260 and 1,500 homes respectively, announced they were in discussions over a possible “collaboration” in January 2018.
Inside Housing has learned the associations’ boards have approved the outline business case for a merger and are now due to start full due diligence work.
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A joint steering group for the merger will meet in February to decide a timetable for the full business case.
A spokesperson for the two organisations said: “Following early due diligence, both boards of Tai Ceredigion and Mid-Wales Housing are pleased to confirm that they both agree in principle to proceed to the full business case stage to consider the potential merger of both associations.”
The pair hope merging will boost their development capacity and influence with politicians and funders as well as improving tenant services, the statement added.
In 2017, Tai Ceredigion bosses attacked a merger process between troubled landlord Tai Cantref and 9,500-home association Wales & West before the Welsh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, claiming they were given just seven days to make a bid and were not given any feedback.
Last year, an investigation by the Welsh government’s housing regulation team cleared Mid-Wales Housing following whisteblower allegations of bullying and expenses fraud.
Both Tai Ceredigion and Mid-Wales Housing received ‘standard’ gradings for governance and financial viability in their most recent regulatory assessments – the highest possible rating.
