Southway Housing Trust

What Southway Housing Trust does

Southway Housing Trust is a not-for-profit registered social landlord operating in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire areas of the United Kingdom, managing over 6,500 social homes across a portfolio that includes general-needs housing, sheltered and age-friendly schemes, and leasehold properties. The organization traces its origin to a 2007 transfer of housing stock from Manchester City Council, and it is currently engaged in merger talks with Wythenshawe Community Housing Group that, if completed, would create Manchester's largest social housing provider. Tenant relationships are anchored by the MySouthway online portal, which supports rent balance checks, a five-step repair booking process with photo upload and appointment slot selection, and account self-service, with payments processed through the allpay platform supporting Direct Debit, card, text, PayPoint, and Post Office channels.

The business model operates on four revenue streams: recurring social housing rents (set under government affordable rent guidelines and payable weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly, or monthly), recurring service charges for communal services in flats, estates, and sheltered housing, one-off shared ownership and Right to Buy / Right to Acquire sales, and partnership income from joint development projects such as the Chorlton Cross redevelopment with PJ Livesey and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund. Beyond core housing management, Southway runs a wide portfolio of tenant support services including welfare benefits advice, debt and budgeting support, anti-social behaviour intervention, domestic abuse services, hoarding support, age-friendly housing programs, and major adaptations via the Manchester Equipment and Adaptations Partnership (MEAP). Distribution is direct-to-tenant through the MySouthway portal, phone, in-person at the Manchester headquarters on Princess Road, and inbound via the Manchester Move housing allocation portal operated by Manchester City Council.

Operationally, Southway holds Green Flag status for Barlow Hall green space across eight consecutive years and is a signatory of the Chartered Institute of Housing's Make a Stand Campaign on domestic abuse, reflecting ESG and tenant-welfare positioning. Reported customer outcomes include 73% overall tenant satisfaction (+2% year-on-year) and 75% satisfaction with repairs (+6% year-on-year), against a backdrop of new development activity and an active merger consultation process that will determine the organization's scale and structure over the next planning cycle.

Name

Southway Housing Trust

Legal name

Southway Housing Trust

Website

https://southwayhousing.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southway Housing Trust is a not-for-profit registered social landlord providing over 6,500 affordable homes across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, serving individual social housing tenants through housing management, repairs, shared ownership, and integrated welfare and tenancy support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing Services

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (531110), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)

SIC

Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Independent Living Real Estate Owners/Operators (REITs & Management Companies) (HLADAAAG)

Keywords

• Social housing
• Affordable housing
• Housing association
• Tenant services
• Property management

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Housing Rents: Weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or four-weekly rental payments from tenants living in over 6,500 social homes across Greater Manchester and Cheshire
2. Service Charges: Additional charges for communal services including cleaning, lift maintenance, ground maintenance, and personal services like fuel charges and community alarms for flat, estate, or sheltered housing residents
3. Shared Ownership Sales: Partial home ownership scheme allowing tenants to buy a share of their home through the government's Right to Buy, Right to Acquire, or shared ownership programs
4. Development Partnerships: Partnership income from joint development projects delivering social-rent homes, such as the Chorlton Cross development with PJ Livesey and Greater Manchester Pension Fund

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Southway Housing Trust is a not-for-profit registered social landlord and housing association providing over 6,500 social homes across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The organization manages social housing tenancies, delivers responsive repairs and maintenance services, processes rent and service charge payments, and offers comprehensive tenant support services including welfare benefits advice, domestic abuse support, anti-social behaviour intervention, age-friendly housing schemes, and home adaptations. Tenants access services via the MySouthway online portal, telephone, in-person at the Manchester headquarters, or through the Manchester Move housing allocation system.

Product overview

Southway Housing Trust operates as a social housing provider managing over 6,500 homes across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The organization offers a unified tenant services ecosystem anchored by the MySouthway Portal, which serves as the central digital hub for accessing repair booking, rent payments, and account management. This portal is complemented by diverse support services including welfare benefits advice, anti-social behaviour support, domestic abuse services, age-friendly housing programs, and hoarding support. The housing services also include rightsizing schemes, equipment adaptations, and mutual exchange programs through the House Exchange platform. Payment processing is handled through the allpay system. The offering functions as an integrated service portfolio rather than a modular platform architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MySouthway Portal Online tenant portal allowing social housing residents to check rent balances, book repairs, and update personal details through a five-step repair booking process with account management functionality. Targeted at Southway tenants across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
• Online Repair Booking System Digital system enabling tenants to book non-emergency repairs in five steps: selecting repair type, confirming details, adding photos, choosing date/time, and confirming the appointment slot. Available to Southway tenants via the MySouthway portal.
• Rent Payment Services Multiple rent payment channels including Direct Debit, online payments via allpay, text message payments, standing orders, phone payments, Post Office payments, PayPoint, recurring card payments, and postal payments. Available weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly, or monthly to Southway tenants.
• Shared Ownership Home Sales Partial home ownership scheme allowing eligible tenants to buy a share of their home through the government's Right to Buy, Right to Acquire, or shared ownership programs. Available to qualifying Southway tenants and applicants.
• Welfare Benefits Advice Service Advice and support service helping Southway tenants with benefits applications, appeals, Pension Credit claims, benefit cap guidance, Personal Independence Payment, and Universal Credit. Includes cost of living support.
• Rightsizing Scheme Downsizing support program helping Southway tenants move to smaller homes, offering up to £2,500 to clear rent arrears. Partnership with Manchester City Council to free up larger homes for families experiencing homelessness.
• Anti-Social Behaviour Support Services for reporting and managing anti-social behaviour including Category 1 (immediate risk) and Category 2 response protocols, hate crime reporting, and partnership working with Greater Manchester Police. Available to Southway tenants.
• Domestic Abuse Support Services Comprehensive support including safety planning, housing options, referrals to MARAC, and connections to refuge services. Staff trained to complete Domestic Abuse Risk Indicator Check Lists. Available to Southway tenants.
• Age Friendly Living Housing and support services for Southway residents aged 55 and over, including Age Friendly Schemes, With Care Schemes, and Sheltered Schemes. Includes the Age Friendly Strategy with six key themes adopted since 2012.
• Hoarding Support Service Tenancy support service using the Clutter Image Rating Scale for assessment. Trauma-trained specialist officers provide support to help Southway tenants manage their homes.
• Equipment and Adaptations Minor adaptations (under £1,000) fully funded by Southway and major adaptations through MEAP (Manchester Equipment and Adaptations Partnership) with Disabled Facilities Grant funding options. Available to Southway tenants with disabilities or mobility challenges.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PJ LiveseycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Development partner for the former Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre project. PJ Livesey is bringing forward the demolition and mixed-use neighbourhood development including 49 social-rent homes delivered alongside Southway Housing Trust.
• Wythenshawe Community Housing GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerger talks underway to combine Southway Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group to create Manchester's largest social housing provider. Residents invited to have their say on the proposed merger.
• Manchester Equipment and Adaptations Partnership (MEAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Manchester City Council providing equipment and adaptations support for residents with disabilities. MEAP arranges major adaptations including wet rooms and stairlifts through Occupational Therapist assessments.
• Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free home fire risk assessments and smoke alarm fitting for Southway tenants.
• Manchester City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership covering housing allocation (Manchester Move), rightsizing scheme (up to £2,500 rent clearance for downsizers), Discretionary Housing Payments, and various community services.
• House ExchangeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome exchange service allowing Southway tenants to swap homes with tenants of other housing associations and councils across the UK.
• Stop Hate UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational hate crime support organization providing 24-hour telephone helpline for victims and witnesses of hate crimes and discrimination in partnership with Southway.
• Manchester MovecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing allocation system for Manchester area social housing. Southway receives housing applicants through this portal.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Onward Homes: Large North West housing association operating across Greater Manchester and Liverpool with social rent, supported housing, and shared ownership — closely comparable in geography and stock type.
• Plus Dane Housing: North West housing association with a comparable portfolio size and similar mix of general needs, supported, and sheltered housing across similar urban geographies.
• Irwell Valley Homes: North West housing association operating across Greater Manchester with a comparable mix of general needs social rent, supported housing, and shared ownership stock.
• Wythenshawe Community Housing Group: Manchester-based housing association currently in merger talks with Southway. Operates a similar social housing portfolio in the same geography with comparable tenant demographics and service models.
• Contour Homes: Manchester-based housing association providing social and affordable housing in similar post-industrial neighbourhoods, with overlapping tenant profiles and local authority partnership structures.

Broad incumbents

• Sanctuary Housing: Large UK housing association with national reach including North West operations. Provides comparable general needs, supported, and older persons housing alongside tenant support services.
• Clarion Housing: The UK's largest housing association with a national portfolio including Greater Manchester stock. Operates at greater scale with broader geographic diversification and similar service bundles.
• Peabody: Major London-headquartered housing association with expanding regional operations. Offers comparable general needs, supported, and older persons housing with an extensive tenant support service model.
• Riverside Housing: One of the UK's largest housing associations with a significant North West presence. Competes for development opportunities and operates overlapping supported housing and age-friendly services.
• L&Q: Large UK housing association with a broad national portfolio including North West stock. Operates comparable social rent, shared ownership, and supported housing services with similar wraparound tenant support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRGWsKcV5oyn2-jj7qPlYag
• Facebookfacebook.com/southwayhousing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southway-housing-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/southwayhousing
• Xx.com/southwayhousing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Southway Housing Trust