Hillcrest

What Hillcrest does

Hillcrest is one of Scotland's largest housing associations, established in 1967 and headquartered in Dundee. Operating as a registered Scottish charity (SC006809) and registered social landlord, the group delivers integrated housing and social-care services across Angus, Dundee, Edinburgh, Perthshire, Glasgow, Fife, Aberdeen, and Aberdeenshire through four core subsidiaries: Hillcrest Homes (social housing), Hillcrest Enterprises (mid-market rent), Hillcrest Futures (care and support covering autism, homelessness, learning disabilities, older people, student support, and substance use), and Hillcrest Maintenance (in-house repairs). The Hillcrest Foundation and sub-services such as HEAT, TSS, and HART extend the offering into community grants, energy advice, tenancy sustainment, and tenant participation. Headcount sits in the 1,001-5,000 band.

Hillcrest's revenue model is anchored on recurring social and mid-market rental income, supplemented by maintenance service revenue and care/support contracts. Tenant allocations flow through common housing registers, local authority referrals, and direct applications, with the group holding co-funding and partnership relationships with the Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme and multiple Scottish councils. Notable technical components include modular construction (deployed at Victoria Dock), energy-efficient building systems, IoT environmental sensors for damp and mould monitoring, the MyHillcrest digital tenant portal, and an award-winning HEAT energy advisory service that has unlocked over £364,000 in tenant financial gains in a single year and supported households 2,268 times.

Strategic positioning centres on integrated service delivery rather than pure landlord activity. Differentiated offerings — Naloxone training for staff, the energy top-up scheme, the Tenancy Sustainment Service, and CX-Feedback tenant engagement analytics — sit alongside a development pipeline that includes a £12.5M Stonehaven scheme (91 homes), a 163-home Edinburgh development, and over 300 planned homes in the Grampian region. The April 2019 launch of Hillcrest Enterprises via merger, the 2019 Aberdeenshire expansion, and a recent CEO transition from Angela Linton to John Alexander mark the most consequential recent corporate moves.

Name

Hillcrest

Legal name

Hillcrest Homes (Scotland) Limited

Website

https://hillcrest.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Hillcrest is one of Scotland's largest not-for-profit housing associations, operating four subsidiaries that deliver social housing, mid-market rent, care and support services, and property maintenance across eight Scottish regions to individuals, families, and vulnerable populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing

NAICS

Residential Property Managers (531311), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (531110), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Social housing
• Affordable housing
• Mid-market rent
• Care and support services
• Property maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Dundee

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Social Housing Rents: Rental income from social housing properties managed through Hillcrest Homes, providing quality affordable housing to tenants
2. Mid-Market Rents: Rental income from mid-market rent properties through Hillcrest Enterprises, priced between social and private rental
3. Maintenance Services: Maintenance and repair services provided through Hillcrest Maintenance subsidiary company
4. Care and Support Services: Care and support services through Hillcrest Futures including services for autism, homelessness, learning disabilities, older people, and substance use

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hillcrest is one of Scotland's largest housing associations operating a group of companies that provide affordable social housing, mid-market rental housing, care and support services for vulnerable people, and property maintenance and repair services. Its operations span social rent homes, mid-market rent homes, specialist care for autism, homelessness, learning disabilities, older people and substance use, along with energy advice and tenancy sustainment services.

Product overview

Hillcrest is one of Scotland's largest housing associations operating as a group of companies providing integrated housing and support services. The organization consists of four main operating companies: Hillcrest Homes (social housing), Hillcrest Enterprises (mid-market rent housing), Hillcrest Futures (care and support services), and Hillcrest Maintenance (property maintenance services). These divisions work together to provide end-to-end coverage from affordable housing provision through to care support and property maintenance. Additional services include the MyHillcrest digital tenant portal, the Hillcrest Energy Advice Team (HEAT) for fuel poverty support, and the Tenancy Sustainment Service. The Hillcrest Foundation serves as the charitable arm supporting community initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hillcrest Homes: Social housing provider offering quality affordable homes for rent
• Hillcrest Enterprises
• Hillcrest Futures
• Hillcrest Maintenance
• Hillcrest Foundation
• HEAT
• HART (Hillcrest Action for Residents and Tenants Group)
• TSS

Products and services

• Hillcrest Homes (Social Housing) Social housing provision offering quality affordable homes for rent across Angus, Dundee, Edinburgh, Perthshire, Glasgow, Fife and Aberdeen. Properties are allocated through common housing registers, local authority allocations and direct applications.
• Hillcrest Enterprises (Mid-Market Rent) Mid-market rent housing provision offering quality homes at rates between social and private rent for working households who do not qualify for social housing but cannot afford private rental.
• Hillcrest Futures (Care and Support Services) Care and support services for vulnerable people including autism support, homelessness services (Portman Street and Tullideph), learning disabilities care, older people services, young people services, substance use support, student support, and The Beacon Community Wellbeing Centre.
• Hillcrest Maintenance

Quantifiable outcome

• £502,740 in financial gains for tenants through Pension Credit outreach initiative
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Caledonia Housing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Partnership with Caledonia Housing Association on community artwork project at Weavers Yard in Dundee, bringing together Hillcrest Homes and Caledonia to refresh three artwork panels at the entrance to the development.
• Stobswell ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 May 2026Community partnership on Weavers Yard artwork project - Stobswell Forum is a local volunteer community organization that helped fund the artwork and participated in the community consultation process.
• Dundee Historic Environment Trust (DHET)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Collaboration on RRS Discovery restoration project - DHET helped bring together various parties involved in salvaging historic timbers from Hillcrest's Burnside Mill regeneration for use in restoring Captain Scott's ship. DHET also provided funding for external works to the roof of the mill building.
• Dundee Heritage Trust (DHT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Collaboration on RRS Discovery restoration - DHT is working to preserve Dundee's maritime heritage by restoring the 125-year-old ship using timbers from Hillcrest's Burnside Mill regeneration project. The timbers will be used for outer planking, bulwarks and deck shelves.
• George Martin Limited (GMB)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 May 2026Main contractors for the Burnside Mill regeneration project who carried out extensive construction works on behalf of Hillcrest. GMB is a specialist at regenerating historic buildings and facilitated the removal of historic timber beams for the RRS Discovery project.
• Historic Environment Scotland (HES)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Involved in the conservation and heritage project to safeguard RRS Discovery using materials from Hillcrest's Burnside regeneration project.
• JPS Restoration and Consultancy Ltd (JPS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 May 2026Ship refurbishment specialists carrying out works on RRS Discovery who will identify suitable timbers from Hillcrest's salvaged beams to support restoration and repair of the ship's outer planking, bulwarks and deck shelves over two years.
• Energy Action ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2021Partnership with Energy Action Scotland and Scotland's national chef Gary Maclean on pressure cooker scheme to help low-income Dundee families combat fuel poverty. The scheme allows families to save up to 90% of power normally used for cooking.
• Gary Maclean (Scotland's National Chef)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2021Masterchef: The Professionals champion backing the pressure cooker campaign with online cooking classes and recipes to help families reduce bills and cook healthier meals.
• Robertson Partnership HomescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 March 2019Main contractor delivering 163 new homes at Derby Street on behalf of Hillcrest Housing Association and Dundee City Council. The development includes modern flats as well as detached and terraced homes.
• Dundee City CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 March 2019Partnership on Derby Street development with Robertson and Hillcrest. Dundee City Council is supporting the 163-home project which is part of the ongoing regeneration of the Hilltown area.
• Aberdeenshire CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 February 2019Partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Government to create 91 new affordable homes in Stonehaven. The council is providing support alongside Scottish Government funding through the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.
• FMRcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 February 2019Developer contracted to undertake construction of the 91-home development at Ury Estate in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire worth £12.5 million.
• George Martin BuilderscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 February 2019Tayside construction firm that undertook the Aberfeldy development completed in January 2019, building 24 affordable homes with energy efficiency innovations.
• World Care FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2019International charity through which Hillcrest staff member Amera Sajid traveled to Lebanon to help distribute aid packages to Syrian refugees. The foundation operates a 100% donation policy.
• Dundee International Women's CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2018Local charity receiving £200 from Hillcrest's Gift Aid initiative for their Lunch Club through December. The centre engages, educates and empowers women from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Fairfield Community Sports HubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2018Dundee-based community organization receiving £100 from Hillcrest's Gift Aid initiative for equipment and resources to provide physical and recreational activities promoting health and wellbeing.
• 6VT Youth Cafe (Edinburgh)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2018Edinburgh-based youth organization receiving £200 from Hillcrest's Gift Aid initiative for drop-in session resources supporting vulnerable young people.
• Angus Financial Inclusion PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2018Partnership organizing the 'What's the Benefit' event during Talk Money Week, bringing together organizations including Hillcrest, Scottish Government, Scottish Social Security, Citizen's Advice, and Angus Council to improve financial inclusion services.
• Dundee and Angus CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2018Construction students from Dundee and Angus College visited Hillcrest's Eliza Street development to learn about the construction industry and trades including joinery, bricklaying and painting and decorating.
• Energy Action ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Charity that has provided funding for HEAT (Hillcrest Energy Advice Team) initiatives including the energy top-up scheme for tenants struggling financially. EAS also worked with Hillcrest on pressure cooker distribution to help combat fuel poverty.
• Dundee and Angus CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing work experience opportunities for construction students at Hillcrest development sites, helping inspire careers in construction.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wheatley Group: Scotland's largest housing association, operating Lowther Homes, Barony, and Cube. Directly comparable to Hillcrest as a multi-region Scottish housing association providing social housing, mid-market rent, and care services via subsidiaries — Wheatley is the scale leader in exactly the same operating model.
• Sanctuary Housing: One of the UK's largest housing associations offering affordable and social housing plus supported living and care services. Operates the integrated housing-plus-care model closely mirroring Hillcrest's Homes/Enterprises/Futures/Maintenance structure.
• Home Group: Major UK housing association providing social housing, supported living, and care services across the UK. Comparable integrated housing-and-care service model and similar reliance on government funding for development.
• Clarion Housing Group: UK's largest housing association with social and affordable housing stock plus care and support services. Closest analogue in terms of scale and diversified housing-plus-support model.
• Peabody: Large UK housing association operating social and affordable housing across multiple regions, with adjacent care/support services. Comparable as a large multi-region HA with regulated, mixed-tenure portfolio.
• Notting Hill Genesis: Major London-based housing association with social, shared ownership, and affordable rent portfolios, plus supported housing. Comparable as a multi-tenure landlord operating in regulated environments.
• Places for People: UK-wide housing association and property management group combining affordable housing, care & support, and home maintenance services. Directly comparable integrated operating model.

Regional players

• Dunedin Canmore Housing Association: Scottish housing association operating primarily in Edinburgh, Lothian, and the Borders. Comparable regional peer operating social and mid-market rent in overlapping Scottish geographies.
• Fyne Homes: Scottish housing association providing affordable housing across Argyll and Bute. Comparable regional Scottish housing association model with social housing focus.

Others

• Scotland's Housing Network: Membership body representing Scottish housing associations including Hillcrest. Comparable as the sector-level ecosystem organization; not a direct competitor but relevant for benchmarking and policy representation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HillcrestScot
• Facebookfacebook.com/HillcrestScotland

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest