Stonewater
Stonewater is one of the UK's largest charitable social housing providers, managing approximately 36,000 affordable homes for 78,000+ customers across central and southern England through social rent, Shared Ownership, retirement living, and supported housing, with a strategic focus on energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersWhetstone, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Stonewater does
Stonewater is one of the UK's largest social housing providers, operating as a charitable Registered Society (Stonewater Limited, No. 20558R) with a group structure that includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Greenoak Housing Association, Mount Green Housing Association, Stonewater Funding PLC (a London Stock Exchange-listed funding vehicle), and development and procurement entities. The organisation owns and manages approximately 36,000 homes for 78,000+ customers predominantly across central and southern England, offering four core product lines: social rent housing, Shared Ownership sales, retirement living with assistive technology, and supported accommodation including domestic abuse refuges.
Its operating model blends traditional housing association activity with digital and sustainability-led differentiation. The MyHome portal and mobile app handle tenant-facing services (repairs, rent payments, account management), while a Customer Hubb supports community engagement. On the asset side, Stonewater builds to Passivhaus ultra-low-energy standards in new developments (SAP 86+ ratings), partners with Wondrwall for AI-driven smart heating, and runs an active retrofit programme targeting EPC C for existing stock ahead of the 2030 government milestone. Construction is increasingly delivered via Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
The revenue model is hybrid: recurring social rents set below market rates per government formula (the largest stream), one-time Shared Ownership sales receipts, and significant debt funding through sustainability-linked bank facilities (Lloyds £200m, RBS £75m+£102m, a five-lender £254m revolving package) and the Stonewater Funding PLC bond programme. The organisation is rated A- by S&P with stable outlook, holds G1/V2 gradings from the Regulator of Social Housing, and operates with 501-1,000 employees. Strategic positioning centres on scaling energy-efficient affordable housing supply, decarbonising existing stock, and building thought leadership through the Greenoak Centre of Excellence.
Stonewater firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stonewater
- Legal name
- Stonewater Limited, Charitable Registered Societies No. 20558R
- Website
- https://stonewater.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Stonewater is one of the UK's largest charitable social housing providers, managing approximately 36,000 affordable homes for 78,000+ customers across central and southern England through social rent, Shared Ownership, retirement living, and supported housing, with a strategic focus on energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Stonewater is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Whetstone
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Stonewater business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Social Housing Rents: Rental income from approximately 36,000 homes managed across central and southern England. Tenants pay social rent which is typically below market rates.
- Shared Ownership Sales: Sale of partial home ownership stakes to customers who cannot afford to buy outright. Customers purchase a share of the property and pay rent on the remaining portion.
- Sustainability-Linked Loan Funding: Secured £200m sustainability-linked loan from Lloyds Bank with commitments to energy-efficient retrofitting and new affordable homes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Social rent pricing set below market rate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Stonewater product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stonewater is a UK social housing provider that owns and manages approximately 36,000 affordable homes serving more than 78,000 customers across central and southern England. It delivers social rent tenancies, Shared Ownership home purchases, Retirement Living, and Supported Living accommodation, with digital customer services provided through the MyHome portal and app.
Product overview
Stonewater is a social housing provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of housing services. The core offering includes rental properties, shared ownership (homes to buy), retirement living, and supported housing for vulnerable customers. Digital services are delivered through the MyHome customer portal and app, enabling 24/7 management of repairs, payments, and account access. The Customer Hubb provides community engagement functionality. Sustainability is enhanced through Wondrwall smart heating systems and Passivhaus-standard construction in new developments. The Greenoak Centre of Excellence drives thought leadership on zero-carbon housing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Homes to Rent
Quantifiable outcome
- 8,000 homes built since 2015
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Stonewater
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Stonewater technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Stonewater partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MyPadcoreResidential developer partnered with Stonewater as registered provider for up to 75 affordable homes scheme in Ellistown, Leicestershire.
- RichboroughminorLand promoter that sold site in Ellistown, Leicestershire for affordable housing development.
- Greenoak Housing AssociationcoreBrought into Stonewater Group, expanding affordable housing portfolio with focus on sustainability and customer support.
- Longleigh FoundationcoreProvides free financial and wellbeing support to Stonewater customers. Funded INVITE project research with University of Stirling.
- University of StirlingcoreResearch partnership to explore how assistive and everyday technologies can be implemented in retirement living properties to improve residents' quality of life (INVITE project).
- IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research)coreLeading think tank partnership for research on decarbonising UK's existing housing stock, including GreenGo report and All hands to the pump report.
- DemoscoreBritain's leading cross-party think-tank partnership for research on impact of Covid-19 and shift to home working on low paid workers (Inside Jobs report).
- WondrwallcoreTechnology partnership for smart heating systems that learn occupant behavior to reduce carbon emissions and maximize cost savings in new-build properties.
- Winsley WhiteminorLocal construction firm, rural housing specialist working with Stonewater on rural schemes including Passivhaus standard developments.
- Thakeham GroupminorHomebuilder partnership for affordable rent and Shared Ownership homes in Newick, East Sussex.
- Living SpaceminorPartnered to provide 32 new affordable homes in Cradley, Herefordshire alongside 19 market sale homes.
- We Are DigitalminorPartnership to help customers improve online skills through digital and employability skills training.
- National Housing Federation Sustainability Strategy GroupcoreStonewater CEO Nicholas Harris serves as Vice-Chair, steering sector's response to sustainability and climate change challenges.
- Greenoak Centre of Excellence PartnerscoreCollaborative thought leadership initiative inviting discussion on strategic and technical issues with partners, stakeholders, and other housing associations for achieving zero-carbon future.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Stonewater competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Peabody: One of the UK's largest housing associations, managing around 106,000 homes across London and the South East. Directly comparable to Stonewater in business model (charitable registered provider, social rent and shared ownership), customer base (low-to-middle-income tenants) and geographic footprint (southern England).
- Clarion Housing: The UK's largest housing association with approximately 125,000 homes. Operates an identical charitable-registered-provider model to Stonewater, with a shared-ownership and social-rent portfolio across central and southern England and a comparable sustainability/retrofit agenda.
- L&Q: Major UK housing association and residential developer with around 110,000 homes. Closely comparable to Stonewater in operating model (charitable status, social rent and shared ownership, southern England concentration) and in pursuit of development-led growth.
- Notting Hill Genesis: Large London-headquartered housing association managing around 66,000 homes. Comparable to Stonewater in customer base (affordable housing seekers), product mix (social rent, shared ownership, supported housing) and focus on sustainability-led retrofit of existing stock.
- Hyde: UK housing association managing more than 57,000 homes, predominantly in central and southern England. Directly comparable to Stonewater in geographic footprint, social-rent and shared-ownership offering, and ambition around energy-efficient new-build.
- Guinness Partnership: National housing association with around 65,000 homes and a similar charitable registered-provider structure. Comparable to Stonewater in product mix (general needs, retirement and supported living) and customer segments (older people, vulnerable adults).
- Orbit Group: Housing association managing around 45,000 homes across central England and the Midlands. Comparable in scale, geographic proximity to Stonewater's central/southern England footprint, and mix of social rent, shared ownership and supported housing.
- Sanctuary Housing: UK housing association with over 100,000 customers and a similar charitable registered-provider business model. Comparable in customer base, supported-living provision and pursuit of energy-efficiency programmes across a large existing stock.
- Home Group: Large UK housing association managing around 55,000 homes with a strong supported-living and mental-health housing offer. Comparable to Stonewater in charitable-provider structure and specialist-housing customer segments.
- Places for London (formerly Family Mosaic): Housing association operating across London with a development-led affordable housing pipeline. Comparable to Stonewater in shared ownership and social rent focus, though concentrated in London rather than central/southern England more broadly.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Stonewater social profiles
Digital presenceStonewater compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Stonewater financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stonewater leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Stonewater subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Stonewater funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stonewater M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stonewater
What does Stonewater do?
Stonewater is a UK social housing provider that owns and manages approximately 36,000 affordable homes serving more than 78,000 customers across central and southern England. It delivers social rent tenancies, Shared Ownership home purchases, Retirement Living, and Supported Living accommodation, with digital customer services provided through the MyHome portal and app.
Is Stonewater a public or private company?
Stonewater is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Stonewater founded?
Stonewater was founded in 2015. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Stonewater based?
Stonewater is headquartered in Whetstone, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Stonewater make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Social Housing Rents are the primary driver. The others are shared Ownership Sales and sustainability-Linked Loan Funding.
Who are Stonewater's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Peabody, Clarion Housing, L&Q, Notting Hill Genesis, Hyde, Guinness Partnership, Orbit Group, Sanctuary Housing, Home Group and Places for London (formerly Family Mosaic).
Does Stonewater have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stonewater.