Ethos Public Relations Manchester

First members for pioneering new housing mutual

by Ethos public relations

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) recently held its first event to recruit Members to what will be the UK’s first tenant and employee co-owned mutual landlord.

In December last year, council tenants voted to create the UK’s first tenant and employee co-owned mutual landlord which will see ownership of 13,700 homes transferred from Rochdale Borough Council to RBH in March - placing members at the heart of the organisation.

RBH Chief Executive, Gareth Swarbrick, said: “This new model could help find solutions to the political and financial challenges now facing the sector and the active involvement of both tenants and employees will be crucial.

“Around 200 tenants attended our first launch event and we were delighted to see so many people come into town on a Saturday morning to give their support and be among the first to sign up for Membership of the new mutual.”

The event was hosted by Mervyn Wilson, Chief Executive and Principal of the Co-operative College, who told the tenant delegates that they were creating another historic moment in the rich history of co-operation in Rochdale.

“You are fulfilling some of the ambitions of the original 1844 pioneers whose vision also included housing,” he said. “I believe this model will be followed elsewhere in the country which makes you the new Rochdale pioneers – welcome to the global cooperative family!”

The mutual model adopted by RBH has a structure that includes Members at grass root levels which will include RBH employees and tenants. Members will have their voice heard via a Representative Body which they elect. This will comprise tenants, employees, council representatives and external stakeholders. It will monitor the success of the organisation, set policy framework and agree how to spend money. It will also appoint (and remove) the Board of Directors. The Board itself will be made up of eight non-executive directors and two executive directors.

Andrew Johnson, a tenant on the Constitution Committee, explained: “We have worked hard to develop the new constitution. As tenants and employees working together, we have the same goals – a strong RBH, owned by Members and delivering excellent services.”

Gareth Swarbrick adds: “Co-operation and mutual businesses are becoming widely accepted across all business sectors. People are looking for alternatives ways to operate that are seen to be fair and democratic and we know that what we are doing will be of major importance to RSLs, ALMOs and local authorities who are looking for new ways to deliver their services."

To read other news from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing click here.

Posted at 31^st January 2012