Fairhive
Fairhive is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society and Registered Provider of social housing, managing nearly 9,000 homes across six counties in Southern England (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire) and serving approximately 20,000 residents through tenancy, repairs, welfare and community engagement services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersAylesbury, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Fairhive does
Fairhive Homes Limited is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society (registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, registration number 8826, charity reference ZD18729) operating as a Registered Provider of social housing across six counties in Southern England: Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Northamptonshire. The organisation was formed in April 2022 when the predecessor entity VAHT (Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust) rebranded and merged with Buckinghamshire Housing Association. Fairhive owns and manages nearly 9,000 social and affordable homes serving approximately 20,000 residents, with 300+ employees dedicated to property management, repairs, welfare support and community engagement. It is led by Chief Executive Matthew Applegate and chaired by Peter Hughes, with two wholly-owned subsidiaries — Fairfax Design & Build and Fairfax Housing — that build and sell homes on the private market to generate cross-subsidy income for charitable purposes.
The organisation's product surface centres on a digital resident platform (My HomeHub) that enables rent payment, repair reporting, tenancy document access, appointment booking and budgeting tools, supplemented by an IMPACT Resident Portal for community engagement and event booking. Operations are supported by an in-house Direct Labour Organisation (the first and only HQN-accredited DLO in the UK) handling responsive repairs, void maintenance and estate services, plus neighbourhood managers and scheme coordinators for over-55 Independent Living stock. Adjacent services include the Thriving Communities Fund grant programme, a welfare advice function that secured £4.5m in unclaimed benefits for residents in FY2022-23, and educational resources on home systems such as air-source heat pumps and EV chargers.
Fairhive's revenue model combines recurring social and affordable rental income (set below market rates by the Regulator of Social Housing) with one-time shared ownership sales and private-market sales through its Fairfax subsidiaries. New housing supply is delivered via Section 106 partnerships with major housebuilders — Bellway, Barratt David Wilson, Cala Homes, Redrow and Miller Homes — supplemented by Homes England grant funding. Allocations are made through local authority housing registers and nomination agreements with six county councils, making the business model demand-led and regulator-bounded rather than commercially driven.
Fairhive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fairhive
- Legal name
- Fairhive Homes Limited
- Website
- https://fairhive.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Fairhive is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society and Registered Provider of social housing, managing nearly 9,000 homes across six counties in Southern England (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire) and serving approximately 20,000 residents through tenancy, repairs, welfare and community engagement services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fairhive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Housing
- NAICS
- Lessors of Real Estate (5311)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Active Adult (55+) Independent Living Communities (HLADAAAD)
Keywords
Where Fairhive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aylesbury
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fairhive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Social Rent & Affordable Rent: Rental income from approximately 9,000 social and affordable homes across 6 counties. Income reinvested into social purpose.
- Shared Ownership Sales: Part-buy-part-rent properties sold to eligible buyers, generating income while maintaining affordability
- Subsidiary Companies: Fairfax Design & Build and Fairfax Housing subsidiaries build and sell homes on private market to generate income for charitable objectives
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels12 records
Fairhive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fairhive is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society that provides approximately 9,000 social and affordable rented homes across six UK counties. Revenue is generated primarily from rental income on these homes, supplemented by shared ownership home sales and private-market home sales through subsidiary companies Fairfax Design & Build and Fairfax Housing.
Product overview
Fairhive is a not-for-profit social housing provider operating as a Community Benefit Society, offering a unified platform of housing and resident services. The core offering centers on My HomeHub, a digital resident portal for tenancy management, payments, and repairs. This is supported by an ecosystem of services including the IMPACT resident engagement portal, Thriving Communities Fund grant programme, welfare and advice services, community engagement activities, property development, repairs and maintenance (via a DLO-accredited team), Independent Living schemes for over-55s, and educational home guides. The company provides nearly 9,000 homes across six counties in Southern England.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fairfax Design & Build: Subsidiary company that builds homes on the private market.
- Fairfax Housing
Products and services
- Social and Affordable Rental Homes Core rental housing service providing nearly 9,000 social rent and affordable rent homes to approximately 20,000 residents across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Northamptonshire. Homes are allocated through local authority housing registers and nomination agreements.
- Shared Ownership Homes Part-buy, part-rent home ownership product where eligible buyers purchase a 25% to 75% share of a Fairhive property and pay rent on the remainder, providing a pathway to home ownership for those who cannot afford outright purchase.
- My HomeHub Online Tenant Portal Online 24/7 resident account portal enabling tenants to pay rent, view tenancy documents, report repairs, log neighbour complaints, update personal details, book appointments, access budgeting tools, and request neighbourhood manager visits.
- Repairs and Maintenance Services In-house Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) providing responsive repairs, void maintenance, grounds maintenance, and estate officer services with HQN DLO Accreditation, achieving over 90% resident satisfaction with repairs.
- Independent Living Schemes Specialised housing schemes for residents aged 55 and over offering independent living accommodation with scheme coordinators, communal facilities, and support to reduce social isolation.
- Welfare Help and Advice Services Comprehensive support including Community Hub drop-ins, benefit claims assistance, money management guidance, cost of living resources, food bank support, digital inclusion assistance, and winter readiness preparation; the Welfare Team secured £4.5 million in unclaimed benefits for residents in 2022-23.
- IMPACT Resident Engagement Portal Resident engagement portal providing information on events, estate walkabouts, holiday fun programmes, volunteering opportunities, and community initiatives.
- Thriving Communities Fund Grant programme providing financial support to residents and community organisations through Springboard Grants (up to £300), Micro Grants (up to £3,000), and Project Grants (up to £10,000).
- Community Engagement Programme Resident-facing programmes including Summer Fun activities, Resident Forum, volunteering opportunities, Young Residents initiatives (Friday Night Project), and resident scrutiny reviews.
- Property Development Services (via Subsidiaries) New-build housing delivered through wholly-owned subsidiaries Fairfax Design & Build and Fairfax Housing, supplying social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership homes, with 197 properties handed over in 2022-23 — the highest annual figure on record.
Quantifiable outcome
- £4.5 million in unclaimed benefits secured for residents
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Fairhive
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fairhive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Fairhive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Buckinghamshire CouncilcoreLocal authority partner for housing development, nominations, and community services. Co-hosts cost of living roadshows and supports new developments.
- Bellway HomescoreMajor housebuilder partner for multiple developments including Tattenhoe Park, Chamberlains Barn, Whitehouse, Greenleys, and Moreton Road. Delivers new affordable homes on residential developments.
- Barratt David Wilson HomescorePart of Barratt Redrow Group. Partnership for developments at Stearn Land (Leighton Buzzard) and Kingsbrook Village 3. Delivers affordable rent and shared ownership homes.
- Cala HomesmajorHousebuilder partner for Kimblewick Road development in Little Kimble, providing 22 new affordable homes.
- Miller HomesmajorHousebuilder partner for Rose Farm development in Longwick, providing 27 new affordable homes.
- Redrow HomesmajorHousebuilder partner for Churchway development in Haddenham, providing 45 new affordable houses with ASHP heating and EV charging.
- FSF Property ServicesmajorConstruction partner for affordable property development in Aylesbury South Court, involving demolition and new build of 24 affordable homes.
- Talkback UKmajorAutism charity providing work placement opportunities for individuals with autism and learning disabilities. Helped build the Little Library at Walton Court through The Accessible Workshop programme.
- Inspired SportminorCharitable organisation delivering Friday Night Project - free football sessions for young residents aged 11-17.
- Alzheimer's SocietyminorPartner for Dementia Friends training sessions for residents, providing awareness and support for community members affected by dementia.
- Aylesbury Town CouncilminorLocal council partner for community initiatives including the Little Library project at Walton Court.
- Pride in LeadershipminorExternal speaker provider for LGBTQ+ awareness sessions, providing equity, diversity and inclusion champion to help break down barriers LGBTQ+ people face.
- Thames Valley PoliceminorPolice partner for community events and engagement activities including orchard picnics and bike security marking.
- Northamptonshire Fire and RescueminorEmergency services partner providing fire safety training exercises and collaboration at Fairhive properties.
- Black History Month Pioneer GroupminorUK-based organisation raising awareness of black contributions throughout history, supported by Fairhive for BHM campaigns.
- IdverdeminorGrounds maintenance contractor, judging partner for Great Gardens competition.
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)minorGovernment department using Fairhive's Cost of Living Toolkit at local events to support claimants.
- Aylesbury Vineyard (Community Hub)minorVenue partner for weekly Community Hub providing welfare support and advice sessions for residents.
- Buckinghamshire Skills HubminorOrganisation pairing employers with schools to provide careers support. Facilitated Fairhive's partnership with Aylesbury High School.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Fairhive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sovereign Housing Association: Large UK housing association with ~85,000 homes across southern England. Comparable as a community-focused social landlord providing affordable rent, shared ownership, and resident engagement programmes similar to Fairhive.
- Stonewater: UK housing association with ~40,000 homes, strong focus on affordable rent and shared ownership in southern England. Directly comparable scale and operating geography to Fairhive.
- Orbit Group: UK housing association with ~46,000 homes across the Midlands and South East. Comparable scale and overlapping geography (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire corridor) with Fairhive, providing similar affordable housing services.
- Paradigm Housing Group: UK housing association operating across the South East and Midlands with ~14,000 homes. Directly comparable as a similarly sized social landlord offering affordable rent, shared ownership, and resident services across overlapping geographies.
- Hyde (Hyde Group): UK housing association with ~58,000 homes across London and southern England. Comparable offering of social/affordable rent, shared ownership, and resident services to Fairhive.
Broad incumbents
- Clarion Housing: Largest UK housing association with ~125,000 homes. Comparable in providing affordable rent, shared ownership, and resident welfare services, but operates at national scale and broader product mix than Fairhive.
- Optivo: UK housing association with ~45,000 homes across London and the South East. Directly comparable in providing affordable housing, shared ownership, and resident engagement, though larger than Fairhive.
- Peabody: One of the UK's largest housing associations with ~110,000 homes. Overlaps with Fairhive in providing social/affordable rent and shared ownership in the South East, but at much greater scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Home Group: Large UK housing association with ~55,000 homes. Comparable in offering social housing and resident support services but operates nationally with broader specialisations including supported housing.
- Notting Hill Genesis: Major UK housing association with ~66,000 homes across London and the South East. Comparable mission and resident service model, but larger scale and more focused on London markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fairhive social profiles
Digital presenceFairhive compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Fairhive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fairhive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Fairhive subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Fairhive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fairhive 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 Fairhive
What does Fairhive do?
Fairhive is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society that provides approximately 9,000 social and affordable rented homes across six UK counties. Revenue is generated primarily from rental income on these homes, supplemented by shared ownership home sales and private-market home sales through subsidiary companies Fairfax Design & Build and Fairfax Housing.
Is Fairhive a public or private company?
Fairhive is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fairhive founded?
Fairhive was founded in 2022. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Fairhive based?
Fairhive is headquartered in Aylesbury, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fairhive make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Social Rent & Affordable Rent is the primary driver. The others are shared Ownership Sales and subsidiary Companies.
Who are Fairhive's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sovereign Housing Association, Stonewater, Orbit Group, Paradigm Housing Group and Hyde (Hyde Group). Broad incumbents are Clarion Housing, Optivo, Peabody, Home Group and Notting Hill Genesis.
Does Fairhive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fairhive.
What industry is Fairhive in?
Fairhive's product category is Social Housing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts), with a secondary code of HLADAAAD, Active Adult (55+) Independent Living Communities. Its NAICS code is 5311 and its SIC code is 7340.