HARRISON HOUSING

What HARRISON HOUSING does

Harrison Housing is a London-based registered charity and provider of social housing, founded in 1869 as 'Homes for the Aged Poor' and incorporated under its current name in 2003. Operating as a Company Limited by Guarantee (Charity No. 1101143, Company No. 4932686), it is regulated by both the Regulator of Social Housing and the Charity Commission, and is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. The organisation's purpose is to provide safe, well-maintained, affordable almshouse accommodation to older people in housing and financial need, supporting independent living across London and the London borders. Its 12-employee team manages over 200 flats across 12 locations spanning Barnet, Camden, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Westminster, Hackney, plus an Essex site at Waltham Abbey.

The portfolio is split between properties owned directly (St James's Gardens, Minford Gardens, Greenwoods) and managed housing schemes operated on behalf of other almshouse charities (Shakespeare Road, Stanley Gardens, Christian Union, Tonge House, Francis Greene House, Leathersellers Close, West Hackney House, Edward Alleyn House, and the Spurstowe/Norris/Monger houses in Hackney). Ancillary resident services include a volunteer Visitors Service providing confidential companionship and paid Guest Rooms for residents' families. Several schemes are targeted at specific beneficiary cohorts (e.g. single women 50+ at Shakespeare Road and Waltham Abbey, older Christians at Christian Union, single women 55+ at Greenwoods). The 2024 Tenant Satisfaction Measure survey reported 68% overall resident satisfaction and 100% compliance with the safer-properties standard.

Harrison Housing generates revenue from two streams: weekly maintenance charges paid by residents in its almshouse properties, and management services provided on a cost-recovery basis to other London almshouse charities (a service it has offered for over 20 years). It also offers full-merger arrangements under which smaller almshouses become 'linked charities' that retain their own aims and funds. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; guest rooms are charged at a nightly rate plus cleaning. Marketing is community-led, primarily through the website, direct applications, and word-of-mouth referrals, with operational performance reported in an annual Housing Ombudsman Report and TSM Results & Action Plan. The 2024 annual report notes continuing operational losses alongside efficiency savings, with a new permanent leadership team implementing a formal improvement programme.

Name

HARRISON HOUSING

Legal name

Harrison Housing

Website

https://harrisonhousing.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harrison Housing is a London-based charity and registered social housing provider, founded in 1869, that operates over 200 almshouse flats across 12 London-area locations for older people in housing and financial need, and provides management and merger services to other London almshouse charities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing

NAICS

Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (721310), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

General Assisted Living Facilities (HLADABAA)

Keywords

• Social housing provider
• Almshouse accommodation
• Affordable housing
• Sheltered housing
• Almshouse management services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Housing Rent and Service Charges: Harrison Housing generates revenue through weekly maintenance charges from residents in their Almshouse properties. These charges cover the cost of housing management, maintenance, and support services. The organization is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing and aims for value for money while maintaining affordability for residents.
2. Management Services to Other Almshouses: Harrison Housing provides management services to other London-based Almshouse charities for over 20 years. As a charity themselves, they aim to recover costs on staff time and other essential costs rather than making huge profits, sharing costs across multiple charities to provide better value.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Harrison Housing provides Almshouse accommodation—safe, well-maintained, affordable one- and two-bedroom flats primarily to older people in housing and financial need across London and the London borders, managing over 200 flats across 12 locations. It also delivers day-to-day management, compliance, and operational support services to other London-based Almshouse charities, including full management and merger options where smaller charities become linked entities.

Product overview

Harrison Housing is a charity and social housing provider offering almshouse accommodation through a portfolio of housing schemes across London. The organization operates both directly owned properties (St James Gardens, Minford Gardens, Greenwoods) and managed schemes on behalf of other almshouse charities (Shakespeare Road, Stanley Gardens, Christian Union, Tonge House, Francis Greene House, Leathersellers Close, West Hackney House, Edward Alleyn House, Dr William Spurstowe House/Norris House/Monger House). Total portfolio exceeds 200 owned and managed flats. Beyond housing, the organization provides resident support services including a Visitors Service offering confidential volunteer companionship, and Guest Rooms for residents' families. The company also offers management and merger services to other London-based Almshouse Charities seeking professional operational support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• St James Gardens Almshouse 48 one-bedroom flats in a Victorian square in Holland Park, housing Harrison Housing's head office and administrative centre, with communal lounge, kitchen, garden, guest room, and laundry facilities.
• Minford Gardens Almshouse 20 one-bedroom flats close to Shepherds Bush station and Westfields shopping centre, providing sheltered housing with communal lounge, kitchen facilities, courtyard garden, guest rooms, and laundry facilities.
• Greenwoods Almshouse 6 one-bedroom flats close to Camden Road station, refurbished in 2007 with lift access and a courtyard garden; intended for single women aged 55+ of limited financial means.
• Shakespeare Road Almshouse (managed for The Howis Trust Charity) 12 self-contained one-bedroom flats managed on behalf of The Howis Trust Charity, with access to an attractive mature garden; eligible residents are single women over 50 years of limited financial means.
• Stanley Gardens Almshouse (managed for Whicher & Kifford Charity) 6 large one-bedroom flats managed on behalf of Whicher & Kifford Charity, sharing a beautiful garden and patio area.
• Christian Union Almshouses 12 one-bedroom flats near Edgware Road tube station, managed on behalf of the Christian Union Almshouse Charity for older or retired Christians of limited financial means, with communal lounge, guest room, courtyard areas, and roof terrace.
• Tonge House Almshouse (managed for The Portal Home for Ladies Charity) 7 one-bedroom self-contained properties in West Norwood, managed on behalf of The Portal Home for Ladies Charity; built in 1936 with modern refurbishment and extensive gardens.
• Francis Greene House Almshouse (managed for Waltham Abbey non-educational Parochial Charity) 11 flats (8 one-bedroom, 3 two-bedroom) in Waltham Abbey managed on behalf of the Waltham Abbey non-educational Parochial Charity, with communal lounge, kitchen, well-maintained gardens, and limited carport parking; primarily for women aged 60+ of limited financial means.
• Leathersellers Close Almshouse (managed for The Leathersellers' Barnet Charity) 20 one-bedroom flats plus a Lodge and Bungalow in High Barnet, managed on behalf of The Leathersellers' Barnet Charity, with large common room, gardens, guest room, and on-site Scheme Manager.
• West Hackney House Almshouse (managed for West Hackney Almshouse Charity) Accommodation for 9 residents in a listed building in Stoke Newington, managed on behalf of the West Hackney Almshouse Charity, with a grand communal area featuring a stained-glass window.
• Edward Alleyn House Almshouse (managed for The Dulwich Almshouse Charity) 14 one-bedroom flats in Dulwich, managed on behalf of The Dulwich Almshouse Charity; the listed building is currently undergoing significant refurbishment.
• Dr William Spurstowe House, Norris House and Monger House Almshouses (managed for Hackney Parish Almshouse Charity) 47 properties (mix of one and two bedrooms) in Hackney, managed on behalf of Hackney Parish Almshouse Charity, with a Warden assisting residents day-to-day.
• Almshouse Management Services Day-to-day management of almshouse operations—including compliance, resident services, and administrative support—provided to other London-based Almshouse charities so their Trustees can focus on long-term strategy.
• Almshouse Merger Services Full takeover of Almshouse charities whose Trustees can no longer continue, bringing them in as 'Linked Charities' that retain their own charitable aims and separate funds.
• Visitors Service Confidential volunteer visiting service providing company and general advice to residents at St James's Gardens and Minford Gardens, accompanied by scheme events held throughout the year.
• Guest Rooms Overnight accommodation for residents' friends and family at St James's Gardens, Minford Gardens, and Christian Union Almshouse, charged at a nightly rate with an additional cleaning charge.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68% overall resident satisfaction (TSM survey 2024)
• +2 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

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Age UKminorOthersAge UK offers befriending services, either via telephone or face to face, which Harrison Housing residents can make use of if they wish. This is an additional external service beyond Harrison Housing's in-house Visitors Service.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anchor: One of the largest not-for-profit providers of housing and care for people aged over 55 in England. Highly comparable to Harrison Housing in targeting older residents with affordable, supported housing and operating on a registered-provider/charitable basis.
• Housing 21: A leading not-for-profit provider of retirement and extra-care housing for older people across England. Directly comparable to Harrison Housing's mission of providing housing for older residents of limited financial means.
• Hanover Housing Association: Specialist housing association focused exclusively on accommodation for older people. Closely comparable to Harrison Housing's independent-living model for elderly residents, with broader geographic reach.

Regional players

• L&Q Group: Major London and South East housing association with a substantial older-person housing portfolio. Comparable London geographic concentration and similar regulatory environment.
• Peabody: Major London-focused housing association operating across multiple boroughs overlapping with Harrison Housing's footprint (Camden, Westminster, Hackney, Lambeth). Comparable London operating environment and resident demographics.
• Notting Hill Genesis: Large London-based housing association formed from a merger, with significant older-person housing. Relevant peer given overlap in London geography and use of consolidation as a growth strategy, mirroring Harrison Housing's approach.

Broad incumbents

• The Guinness Partnership: National housing association providing general-needs and supported housing, including almshouse-style accommodation for older people. Comparable charitable/housing-association operating model with broader geographic reach.
• Sanctuary Housing Association: One of the UK's largest housing associations providing general-needs and supported housing, including for older people. Comparable as a registered social housing provider, though broader in scope than Harrison Housing's almshouse focus.
• Home Group: Large UK housing association providing supported housing including for older people. Comparable registered-provider model with diversified stock, though serving a broader demographic than Harrison Housing.
• Clarion Housing Group: The UK's largest housing association with significant London stock and supported housing for older residents. Comparable registered-provider model but at much greater scale than Harrison Housing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/harrisonhousing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@harrisonhousing7708
• Facebookfacebook.com/harrisonhousing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harrison-housing
• Instagraminstagram.com/harrisonhousing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 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 HARRISON HOUSING