Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) Ltd

What Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) Ltd does

Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) Ltd is a UK-registered Community Benefit Society and tax-exempt charity that refurbishes derelict and run-down houses in the Chapeltown, Harehills and Burley areas of Leeds into energy-efficient supported housing for homeless individuals, families in housing need, refugees and survivors of domestic violence. The organisation combines physical property refurbishment (including rewiring, central heating installation, thermal insulation, sound-proofing and fire door fitting on Victorian and traditional housing stock) with on-site tenancy support, mental health and addiction recovery assistance, life-skills coaching, and a construction traineeship programme for the long-term unemployed. Its service ecosystem is anchored by The Coach House community hub, a food bank operated with Surplus to Purpose and Freedom4girls, and emergency property repairs services for tenants.

The operating model is non-commercial. Latch does not charge tenants rent for housing services and receives no statutory funding for core operations. Income is generated through four streams: donations from individuals and corporate CSR partners, grants from charitable foundations and Leeds City Council, rental income from its property portfolio, and community share issues (a £550,000 raise in 2021 and a £450,000-£650,000 raise in 2023) that provide 4-5% annual returns to socially motivated investors. In 2022 Latch reported income of £1,304,271, expenditure of £1,179,460 and total funds of £4,552,725. As of 2025 the organisation had completed 112 homes and helped more than 568 people over the prior 12 years, with a current headcount of approximately 16 staff and a CEO, James Hartley.

Name

Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) Ltd

Legal name

Leeds Action to Create Homes

Website

https://latch.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) is a Leeds-based charitable Community Benefit Society that refurbishes derelict houses in Chapeltown, Harehills and Burley into supported housing for homeless people, refugees and survivors of domestic violence, while providing construction traineeships and tenant support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Housing Services

NAICS

Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Full Gut Renovation (Studs-Out Remodel) (HSAPAEAA)

Keywords

• Supported housing services
• Social housing provision
• Property refurbishment services
• Construction skills training
• Homelessness support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Latch relies on generous support from businesses, individuals, trusts and grants. Donations can be made through JustGiving platform or direct bank standing orders. The organization does not receive statutory funding for its core operations.
2. Rental Income: As a responsible landlord, Latch generates rental income from its portfolio of refurbished properties provided as supported housing to tenants in housing need.
3. Community Share Issue: Latch launched its first Community Share Issue in 2021, raising £550,000 to purchase 8 properties. Investors can earn returns of up to 4-5% per year through socially responsible investment.
4. Grants and Funding: Funding received from organizations including Leeds City Council, National Lottery (SOLO project), Department of Communities and Local Government Empty Homes Programme, Power to Change, ESF Community Grants Programme, Clothworkers Foundation, LandAid, and Triodos Bank.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Latch purchases empty and derelict houses in Chapeltown, Harehills and Burley areas of Leeds and refurbishes them into modern, energy-efficient supported housing for people who are homeless or in housing need. Most renovation work is carried out by Latch staff, trainees, and volunteers. The organisation also delivers a construction skills training programme for long-term unemployed individuals through the refurbishment activity, and provides ongoing tenant support including personal coaching, mental health support, and life-skills assistance via on-site support workers and The Coach House community hub.

Product overview

Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) Ltd is a charitable organization offering a comprehensive package of housing, training, and support services for homeless people in Leeds. The core offering consists of property refurbishment services that transform derelict houses into energy-efficient supported housing, paired with support services including personal coaching, psychotherapy, and practical assistance. The organization also operates The Coach House as a community hub offering wellbeing services, and provides a food bank for tenants facing cost of living challenges. Training and volunteering programmes help long-term unemployed individuals gain construction skills. Funding comes through donations, community share issues, and grants. The portfolio is a unified service ecosystem rather than discrete products, where housing serves as the foundation supported by training, wellbeing, and financial assistance programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Coach House: Community hub facility providing space for workshops, coaching, and support services for tenants and the local community.
• Hands On
• LATCH Creates

Products and services

• Property Refurbishment & Supported Housing

Quantifiable outcome

• 112 homes refurbished and provided to those in housing need
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2023Global commercial real estate services company helping Latch locate long-term empty properties, undertake stock valuations, provide principal designer assistance and condition surveys for Latch properties.
• Optima LegalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 5 June 2023Providing pro-bono property conveyancing services to help Latch purchase new properties.
• Bewonder Marketing and Design ServicesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2023Helping Latch promote its charity work through marketing and design services.
• Dowsing and ReynoldsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2023Lighting and interior design services company that raised funds for Latch through staff participation in Total Warrior event.
• InterCeramminorOthers · 5 June 2023Local tile supplier that donated over one ton of high quality tiles for bathroom and kitchen renovations.
• Surplus to PurposeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides quality fresh food for the Latch food bank that would otherwise be destined for landfill.
• Freedom4girlsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free sanitary products for Latch tenants through the food bank facility.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Centrepoint: Large UK youth homelessness charity providing accommodation and support across multiple cities. Comparable as a supported-housing provider for homeless individuals, though at significantly greater scale and with a national rather than single-city focus.
• The Riverside Group: Major UK housing association providing general needs and supported housing across England. Comparable as a registered provider of supported accommodation to homeless and vulnerable people, though operating at substantially larger scale than Latch.
• Shelter: UK-wide housing and homelessness charity providing advice, support and campaigning for people in housing need. Comparable mission to Latch's affordable/supported housing provision, though Shelter focuses more on advice/advocacy than direct property refurbishment and letting.
• St Mungo's: Major UK charity helping people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping through housing, health and recovery services. Comparable to Latch in supported-housing mission and wraparound support model, but operates across London and the South-West at much larger scale.
• Crisis UK: National homelessness charity offering housing, education, training and wellbeing support. Comparable to Latch in the integrated housing-plus-training-plus-support approach, but operates at national scale and is primarily funded through donations rather than community share issues.

Direct peers

• Emmaus UK: UK charity supporting formerly homeless people through residential communities that include work-based training and meaningful activity. Highly comparable to Latch's integrated housing-plus-training-plus-support model, although Emmaus operates communities nationally rather than a single-city refurbishment model.
• Giroscope: Hull-based charity that refurbishes empty properties to provide affordable housing and offers construction skills training to disadvantaged people. Closest comparable to Latch's combined empty-homes-refurbishment plus construction-traineeship model.

Regional players

• Connect Housing: Leeds-based housing association providing supported accommodation and homelessness services across West Yorkshire. Directly comparable as a Leeds-focused supported-housing provider with overlapping referral pathways (note: Latch lists Connect Housing's property emergency contact).

Others

• Empty Homes (Action on Empty Homes): UK charity campaigning on empty-property reuse and operating grant programmes to bring empty homes back into use. Comparable to Latch in its focus on derelict/empty residential property, though its role is campaigning and grant-making rather than direct refurbishment.

Emerging players

• Stonewall Housing: UK charity providing housing advice, supported accommodation and advocacy for LGBT+ people in housing need. Comparable niche-supported-housing provider model, though serving a different beneficiary segment than Latch.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LATCHLeeds
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvxLD2vuKvJJMuRph_P53gQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LatchLeeds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leeds-action-to-create-homes-latch-ltd

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 Latch (Leeds Action to Create Homes) Ltd