What Haig Housing Trust does

Haig Housing Trust is a UK registered charity (No. 1125556) and private company (No. 6593129) founded in 1928 by Field Marshal Earl Haig, operating as the country's leading housing provider for British Armed Forces veterans. The charity owns more than 1,500 properties across 50 locations in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, serving 4,000+ beneficiaries including veterans transitioning to civilian life, those in housing need, and their families. Weekly social rents (below market) form the recurring revenue base, supplemented by individual donations, corporate partnerships, fundraising events (London Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon, skydiving, cycling challenges), legacy gifts, and grants from foundations such as the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust and Army Benevolent Fund.

The core product is affordable rental housing, delivered alongside a sustainability retrofit programme in partnership with E.ON covering solar PV (with Solax inverters), Switchee smart thermostats, Pod Point EV chargers, and multi-form insulation across 700+ homes. Technology infrastructure includes a Progressive Web App, online donation and rent payment portals (allpay, JustGiving, PayPal, Virgin Money Giving), and direct integrations with Switchee for two-way resident communications and Solax for real-time energy monitoring. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through online applications, referrals from partner charities (SSAFA, Royal British Legion, Veterans' Gateway, Veterans Aid, Stoll), and Ministry of Defence / Defence Transition Services connections.

Go-to-market is community-led: veterans apply directly or via charity referrals, while fundraising is driven by events, corporate charity partnerships, and legacy/will-giving programmes. The customer base spans two principal segments — British veterans and their families — with vertical segmentation by housing need. The charity holds multiple accreditations including COBSEO membership, Armed Forces Covenant Silver Signatory, Pride in Veterans Standard, and Fundraising Regulator registration. Currently, Haig Housing is executing a £3 million Centenary Capital Appeal (2025-2028) to build 29 new homes and a Veterans' Community Centre at its Morden estate.

Name

Haig Housing Trust

Legal name

Haig Housing Trust

Website

https://haighousing.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Haig Housing Trust is a UK registered charity founded in 1928 that provides affordable rental housing to British Armed Forces veterans and their families across 1,500+ properties in 50 UK locations, funded by social rents, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterans Social Housing

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

Keywords

• Veterans housing services
• Social housing provider
• Affordable rental housing
• Charitable housing trust
• Energy efficiency retrofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Morden

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Housing Rents: Weekly or monthly rental income from veterans occupying the 1,500+ properties. Rent is generally lower than market rates as a charitable housing provider. Rent is charged weekly in most cases, monthly in some cases.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Voluntary donations from individuals, corporate partners, and fundraising events. Includes one-time donations, regular giving, event-based fundraising (marathons, skydiving, cycling), and corporate sponsorship.
3. Legacy Gifts (Bequests): Gifts left in wills by supporters. Charity number 1125556 for bequest documentation.
4. SEG (Smart Export Guarantee): Revenue from selling excess solar energy back to the grid through energy companies obligated under the SEG scheme.
5. Grants from Trusts and Foundations: Major grants from charitable foundations including the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (£1 million launch grant for Capital Appeal) and Army Benevolent Fund (£150,000 for veteran home refurbishments). Also SHDF government funding for energy efficiency retrofits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Haig Housing Trust provides affordable rental homes to British Armed Forces veterans and their families through a portfolio of over 1,500 properties across 50 UK locations. Operating as a registered charity founded in 1928 by Field Marshal Earl Haig, the trust offers subsidised weekly rental housing along with a sustainability retrofit programme (solar PV, smart thermostats, insulation, EV chargers) and resident community support services.

Product overview

Haig Housing Trust operates as a veterans' housing charity providing affordable rental accommodation across the UK. The organization offers veterans housing through a portfolio of over 1,500 properties, supported by a sustainability programme featuring solar PV installations, Switchee smart thermostats, and EV charging infrastructure. Residents access services via multiple channels including a Progressive Web App, online rent payment portal, and the Solax monitoring app. The core housing offering is complemented by community funding initiatives and energy efficiency improvements delivered through government-funded retrofit programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterans Housing Affordable weekly rental housing for ex-service personnel of the British Armed Forces and their families. The charity owns over 1,500 properties across 50 UK locations including its largest estate at Morden, South London. Rents are charged weekly (with monthly calculation option) at below-market charitable rates.
• Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Retrofit Programme Whole-house energy efficiency retrofit covering external wall insulation, loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, underfloor insulation, and solar PV panels, with the goal of achieving EPC rating C across 700+ Haig Housing homes in England. Delivered via E.ON with regional contractors including Thrift Energy Solutions (north England), Greenstorm (Midlands), Surefire Management Services (south England), Flint Energy (ECO4), and Impact Energy (Wales).
• Switchee Smart Thermostat Rollout Touch-screen connected thermostat for heating and hot water that does not require WiFi (uses its own SIM card). Helps residents optimise energy usage, lower bills (estimated 17% savings on heating), and provides Haig Housing with data insights to identify homes at risk of condensation, damp, and mould. Costs approximately £5/year to run.
• Solar PV Panel Installations Solar photovoltaic systems installed on suitable properties that convert sunlight into electricity. Residents can sell excess energy back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme. Systems use hybrid inverters (allowing future battery storage) and are monitored in real time via the Solax app.
• Estate EV Chargers (Pod Point) Electric vehicle charging infrastructure installed on estates (e.g., Queen Elizabeth Terrace at Morden), restricted to Morden residents. Managed through the Pod Point app with a pay-as-you-go payment system.
• Rent Payment Services Multi-channel rent payment service for residents, offering online payment via the allpay portal, standing order, phone payments, Post Office, Paypoint, and Direct Debit. Rent is typically charged weekly with a monthly calculation option (weekly rent x 52 / 12), and accounts must be kept in advance credit.
• Progressive Web App (PWA) Mobile application installable on Android (via Chrome) and iPhone (via Safari) that combines website availability with app-like features. Supports offline page viewing for saved pages, providing residents and supporters with convenient access to Haig Housing services and information.
• Community Fund Small resident-led funding programme that awards grants for community projects including outdoor space improvements, shared activities, and neighbourhood enhancements within Haig Housing estates. Residents can apply for funding to deliver local initiatives that strengthen the veterans' community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000 veterans and family members housed in 1,500+ properties across 50 UK locations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• SwitcheemajorTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2023Smart thermostat provider for sustainability programme. Rollout of touch-screen connected thermostats to all homes at no cost to residents. Device helps optimise energy usage, reduce bills by up to 17%, and provides data insights for identifying damp/mould risks.
• E.ONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery partner for the sustainability programme including Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1. E.ON manages retrofit assessments, solar panel installations, and coordination of contractors for energy efficiency improvements across 700+ homes.
• Thrift Energy SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for retrofit assessments and installations in northern England properties as part of the sustainability programme.
• GreenstormminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for retrofit assessments and installations in Midlands properties as part of the sustainability programme.
• Surefire Management ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor for retrofit assessments and installations in southern England properties as part of the sustainability programme.
• Flint EnergyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECO4 programme installer providing energy efficiency improvements for eligible properties.
• Impact Energy (Wales)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWales Retrofit Assessments provider for sustainability improvements in Welsh properties.
• SSAFAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - major veterans' charity. Haig Housing coordinates support and shares personal data with SSAFA when referring veterans for additional support, under established data protection agreements.
• Royal British LegionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor veterans' charity providing additional support services. Listed as a key housing support organisation for veterans.
• Veterans' GatewaymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst point of contact for veterans seeking support. Haig Housing is listed as a housing support organisation through Veterans' Gateway (0808 802 1212).
• COBSEOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConfederation of Service Charities representing charities supporting the Armed Forces community. Haig Housing holds membership.
• Veterans ScotlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork for Scottish veterans' charities. Haig Housing holds membership for serving veterans in Scotland.
• MorrisonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing supermarket vouchers for Platinum Jubilee celebrations for approximately 1,500 households.
• Silver SpoonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBaking ingredients partner for Tea for VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, providing baking goody bags for event participants.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SSAFA: SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) is the UK's oldest military charity, providing welfare support and housing-related signposting for service personnel and veterans. It is a broad incumbent in the veteran welfare space and a primary referral partner for Haig Housing.
• Home Group: Home Group is a large UK housing association providing supported, specialist, and general needs housing. It is comparable as a major social landlord with an established sustainability and supported housing portfolio, though broader in scope than Haig Housing's veteran-only focus.
• Clarion Housing Group: Clarion Housing is the UK's largest housing association, owning and managing over 125,000 homes. It is comparable as a major not-for-profit social landlord with a significant retrofit and sustainability programme, offering a benchmark for portfolio scale and decarbonisation investment.
• Royal British Legion: The Royal British Legion is the UK's largest Armed Forces charity, with a welfare and housing support offering that overlaps Haig Housing's beneficiary focus. While it operates as a broad welfare charity rather than a specialist housing provider, its Poppy Cottages and housing-related grants make it a key adjacent comparator.
• Guinness Partnership: Guinness Partnership is one of the UK's largest housing associations, providing affordable and supported housing. Comparable as a charitable social landlord operating at significant scale, though without a veteran specialism.
• Sanctuary Housing Association: Sanctuary is one of the UK's largest social housing associations, providing general affordable housing across England and Scotland. It is comparable as a not-for-profit social landlord operating a large-scale property portfolio, though without the veteran specialism.

Emerging players

• Combat Stress: Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health, providing specialist treatment and support. While not a housing provider, it sits in the broader veteran welfare ecosystem and frequently intersects with Haig Housing's beneficiaries through referrals and shared pathways.

Direct peers

• Alabare: Alabare provides supported housing for veterans, homeless individuals, and vulnerable adults across the UK. It is a direct peer as a charitable housing provider addressing UK veteran housing need, overlapping with Haig Housing's beneficiary base and referral ecosystem.
• Veterans Aid: Veterans Aid provides immediate housing and support for veterans in crisis, including emergency accommodation and resettlement. Operates in the same UK veteran housing niche as Haig Housing but with a more acute, short-term focus.
• Stoll (Stoll Veterans Housing): Stoll is the UK's other major dedicated veterans housing charity, operating supported and independent living accommodation for ex-service personnel. It is the most direct functional peer to Haig Housing, sharing the same target population, charitable model, and housing-focused mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/haighousing

Compliance3 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 Haig Housing Trust