Watford Community Housing acquires over 500 homes from Notting Hill Genesis

Hertfordshire-based Watford Community Housing has completed the acquisition of over 500 homes from Notting Hill Genesis (NHG).

The housing association has acquired 509 homes, which are mostly general needs homes for social or affordable rent, as well as shared ownership and leasehold properties, and a small community hub that Watford Community Housing will manage. It now owns and manages more than 8,000 homes and associated assets across South-West Hertfordshire and North-West London.

The sale is part of NHG’s stock rationalisation programme, as it looks to focus on its housing stock in London. Watford Community Housing was seen as the ideal partner due to the location of these homes, which are based across South-West Hertfordshire in Dacorum, St Albans, Three Rivers and Watford.

As Watford Community Housing is a Community Gateway housing association, residents who have transferred from NHG can now become members of the organisation, meaning they have a say in how the organisation operates, can vote in their AGM and get discounts on their shopping.

Watford Community Housing is currently in talks with Thrive Homes over a proposed merger to form a new, larger Community Gateway housing association. The new customers whose homes have been acquired from NHG would also transfer over to the new organisation if this merger goes ahead. 

Tina Barnard, Chief Executive of Watford Community Housing, said: “As an established provider of homes in Hertfordshire, we are delighted to take on these homes from Notting Hill Genesis. 

“It provides us with a great opportunity to strengthen our local presence and to deliver our high-quality services to more customers.”

Matthew Cornwall-Jones, Chief Homes Officer at Notting Hill Genesis, said: “We’re pleased to have worked closely with Watford Community Housing to complete the transfer of more than 500 homes in Hertfordshire. 

“This partnership ensures our residents will benefit from a landlord with local roots, strong community relationships and a proven commitment to high‑quality services. The sale forms part of our wider strategic programme to transfer homes outside London to better placed more local organisations, ensuring a better experience for all our residents.”