What Connect Housing Association does

Connect Housing Association Limited is a charitable community benefit society registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, operating as a regulated housing association (Regulator of Social Housing No. L2285) headquartered in Leeds with regional operations across West Yorkshire. Founded in 2006, the organisation manages over 3,500 homes spanning general needs family housing, supported housing for older people, specialist accommodation for vulnerable populations (women's refuge, young people's housing, homelessness move-on), shared ownership, and affordable and market rent. Customer-facing services are delivered via a 24/7 online tenant portal (MyAccount), phone support, Community Housing Officers working patch-based geographies, and the Thrive community venue in Dewsbury.

The technology stack is cloud-based and operational rather than AI-driven: MyAccount self-service portal for rent, repairs, and account management; Allpay for integrated payment processing across direct debit, card, mobile app, PayPoint, and phone; HomeSwapper for nationwide mutual exchange; and Kallidus LMS for staff compliance training. Properties are allocated through five West Yorkshire local authority Choice Based Lettings schemes (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield) plus Rightmove. Partnerships with Homes England fund new development under the Affordable Homes Programme, and the organisation has committed £60 million over 20+ years to retrofit 3,000+ homes for energy efficiency in pursuit of Net-Zero 2030 organisational and 2050 stock-wide targets.

The revenue model is principally subscription-style recurring rental income from social housing tenancies, with rents set at 50-80% of local market rate and increases governed by the Government formula (CPI + 1% = 4.8% for 2026-27). Supplementary streams include shared ownership rent on unsold equity shares, service charges for grounds maintenance, communal services and cleaning, and new development capital funded through borrowing against rental income supplemented by Homes England grants. The organisation employs 101-250 staff, holds the highest possible consumer rating from the Regulator of Social Housing (March 2026), and is accredited as a Living Wage Employer and Mindful Employer.

Name

Connect Housing Association

Legal name

Connect Housing Association Limited

Website

https://connecthousing.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Connect Housing Association is a UK non-profit housing association managing over 3,500 affordable homes across West Yorkshire. It provides general needs, supported housing, and shared ownership to families, older people, and vulnerable populations via local authority Choice Based Lettings and direct community engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing / Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Senior & Assisted Living Residential Property Management (BPAJAFAE), Affordable Housing & First-Time Buyer Brokerage (BPAJAAAD), Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE)

Keywords

• Social housing association
• Affordable rental housing
• Supported housing services
• Shared ownership housing
• Community housing provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Social Housing Rent: Rental income from over 3,500 social rented homes across West Yorkshire. Rents are set below market level at between 50% and 80% of local market rate. Rent increased by 4.8% for 2026-27 (CPI + 1%). Rental income is allocated across: planned/routine repairs (28p), depreciation (18p), supported housing management (12p), loan interest (11p), other social housing (10p), general needs management (9p), services (9p), major repairs (2p), and other (1p).
2. Shared Ownership: Part-buy/part-rent model where customers purchase typically 25-75% of property value and pay reduced rent on remaining share. Customers can staircase to eventually own 100%. This provides entry to homeownership with smaller deposits.
3. Service Charges: Additional charges for services including grounds maintenance, window cleaning, communal cleaning, communal energy, and equipment maintenance. Calculated separately from rent and based on estimated annual service costs.
4. New Property Development: Business plan ambition to add average 50 homes per year to housing stock. Majority funded through borrowing against rental income, with part-funding from Homes England Affordable Homes Programme. Properties include both rent and shared ownership options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Connect Housing Association manages over 3,500 affordable homes across West Yorkshire (Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield, Bradford), providing general needs social rented housing, supported housing for older people, specialist supported services (women's refuge, young people's housing, move-on homes), and shared ownership properties. Its offering is delivered through a 24/7 online tenant portal, Choice Based Lettings allocations, in-house repairs, community engagement, and a £60 million 20-year retrofit programme targeting Net-Zero by 2030.

Product overview

Connect Housing Association is a housing association offering a comprehensive housing management platform providing homes and support services across West Yorkshire. The core offering centers on affordable housing management, encompassing an online tenant portal (MyAccount) for account management, rent payments, and repair booking; property search and lettings through integrated local authority choice-based systems and Rightmove; and shared ownership schemes. The portfolio includes general needs housing, supported housing for older people (including Hawthorn Mill and Yew Tree Court), young people's supported housing, women's refuge services, and move-on homes. Additional services include estate management, community funding (Seed Funding), the Connected Magazine publication, Money Matters financial support, and a Customer Charter. The organization operates Thrive community venue in Dewsbury and maintains climate sustainability commitments targeting carbon neutrality by 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thrive: A community venue in Dewsbury operated by Connect Housing

Products and services

• MyAccount Online Portal 24/7 self-service online portal for tenants to manage rent accounts, check balances, arrange payments, and book repairs.
• Allpay Rent Payment App Mobile rent payment application offering tenants payment by direct debit, online, PayPoint, and phone 24/7 through the Allpay platform.
• Affordable Housing Search Portal Find-a-home search platform listing Connect's affordable rental properties across West Yorkshire and channelling applications through local authority Choice Based Lettings schemes.
• HomeSwapper Mutual Exchange Mutual exchange service allowing Connect tenants to swap homes with tenants of any other housing association or local authority in England.
• Shared Ownership Scheme Part-buy, part-rent scheme enabling customers to purchase typically 25-75% of a property value while paying reduced rent on the unowned share, with the option to staircase to full ownership.
• New Homes Development Development of new affordable rental and shared ownership homes across West Yorkshire, averaging 50+ new homes per year, with a focus on energy-efficient construction.
• Supported Housing Services Specialist supported housing including self-contained women's refuge apartments in North Kirklees (commissioned by Kirklees Metropolitan Council), 24-hour supported housing for young people under 25 in Huddersfield and Heckmondwike (commissioned by Kirklees District Council), and move-on homes for people transitioning from hostels or homelessness.
• Homes for Older People Supported housing schemes for older people featuring on-site staff, communal lounges, visiting support, 24/7 community alarm systems, and active social programmes (e.g. Hawthorn Mill in Leeds, Yew Tree Court near Todmorden).
• Report a Repair Repair reporting and appointment service available online, by phone, or via MyAccount, with contractor management and emergency out-of-hours call-outs.
• Aids and Adaptations Service Free minor home adaptations service delivering grab rails, lever taps, shower seats, key safes, handrails and step ramps typically within 28 days, with major adaptations routed via Disabled Facilities Grant.
• Money Matters Financial Support In-house financial support service helping tenants manage finances, access welfare benefits, transition to Universal Credit, and address cost-of-living pressures.
• Estate Services Estate management services covering grounds maintenance, window cleaning, communal cleaning, communal energy, and equipment maintenance, funded via separate service charges.
• Thrive Community Venue Community venue in Dewsbury operated by Connect Housing, hosting neighbourhood activities, events, and community engagement programmes.
• Housing Retrofit and Sustainability Programme Long-term sustainability programme investing £60 million over 20+ years to retrofit more than 3,000 homes for energy efficiency, alongside organisational targets for Carbon Neutral by 2025 and Net-Zero by 2030 (organisational) and 2050 (whole stock).

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500+ homes managed across West Yorkshire
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HomeSwappercoreTechnology or Integration · 30 July 2026Partnership with HomeSwapper, one of the UK's largest mutual exchange services. Allows Connect tenants to swap homes with social housing tenants across the UK. Tenants register through HomeSwapper platform to find and arrange property exchanges.
• Cornel Building ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 March 2026New contractor appointed to deliver emergency repairs service, taking over evening and weekend emergency call-outs from March 2026.
• West Yorkshire Housing PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking as part of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership to prevent crime and improve safety across West Yorkshire. Collaboration with other housing providers on shared objectives.
• Kirklees Metropolitan CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partner for women's refuge service in North Kirklees. Connect delivers self-contained apartments for women and children fleeing domestic violence, commissioned by Kirklees Metropolitan Council. Also welcomes referrals from across West Yorkshire and beyond.
• Kirklees District CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioning partner for young people's supported housing services in Huddersfield and Heckmondwike. 24-hour team works with young people under 25 who need help with housing due to homelessness or family breakdown, commissioned by Kirklees District Council.
• Conservation VolunteersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partner for biodiversity and wildlife projects. Works with Connect on environmental improvements in community green spaces. Charity uses money earned from projects to invest in local communities.
• West Yorkshire PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Community Housing Officers work with local police tasking teams in areas with community safety concerns. Collaboration on neighbourhood management and safety initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Home Group: Large UK housing association providing social and supported housing across the North of England and Midlands. Directly comparable in terms of regulated affordable housing, supported housing services, and resident-facing technology platforms.
• Together Housing: Northern England housing association delivering social rented and supported housing with a comparable focus on community investment and tenant engagement. Similar mid-sized scale and service mix to Connect.
• Sanctuary Housing: Large UK housing association providing social housing, supported housing, and care services nationwide. Comparable portfolio breadth including sheltered housing, care services, and shared ownership.
• Yorkshire Housing: Regional housing association operating across Yorkshire with a comparable mix of general needs, supported, and shared ownership homes. Geographic overlap and similar size make it a close operational peer to Connect.
• Platform Housing: Major UK housing association operating general needs, supported, and shared ownership homes with significant development pipelines. Comparable operating model with overlap in supported housing and customer-facing digital services.
• Habinteg: Specialist UK housing association focused on accessible and inclusive housing for disabled people. Comparable in supported housing expertise and small-to-mid scale operations, particularly in adaptations and accessibility services.

Broad incumbents

• Peabody: One of the largest UK housing associations with significant London-focused operations. Comparable operating model and community investment ethos, but with substantially greater scale and a different regional concentration.
• L&Q: Major UK housing association and developer offering social rent, shared ownership, and private rent. Comparable in shared ownership and development activity but with a much larger footprint and development pipeline.
• Anchor Hanover: UK's largest specialist provider of housing and care for older people. Overlaps with Connect's supported housing for older people segment but at significantly greater scale and with a specialist older-person focus.
• Clarion Housing: Largest UK housing association with over 125,000 homes across England. Operates across similar product lines (general needs, supported, shared ownership) but at materially greater scale and geographic reach than Connect.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/connecthousing

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Connect Housing Association