Introduction
Watford Community Housing and Thrive Homes are exploring a potential merger that could create a new, stronger organisation — one that builds on both our strengths and ensures even better homes and services for our residents.
Our aim is simple: to combine our resources and expertise so we can invest more in your homes, provide excellent customer service, and build more affordable housing for local people.
We are currently in the early stages of this process and before any decision is made, we want to hear your views. Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping what happens next.
We are holding a consultation that will run until 1 February 2026, giving all residents the chance to share their views.
To make sure this consultation is fair, transparent and inclusive, we are partnering with Tpas – The Tenant Engagement Experts. Tpas is an independent tenant engagement specialist with over 30 years of experience helping residents to have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their homes and communities.
They will lead and support our consultation process to ensure that every resident, across both organisations, has the opportunity to be heard.
To find out more about the support offered by Tpas, you can download their Resident Information Guide here.
Why we're exploring this merger
Across both organisations, we share the same purpose: providing safe, affordable, and well-maintained homes while making a positive impact in our communities.
By working together, we can:
- Invest more in existing homes and neighbourhoods – with greater capacity for planned works and energy efficiency upgrades.
- Build more affordable homes – pooling resources to tackle the housing shortage locally.
- Enhance customer service – offering faster, more consistent responses through combined expertise.
- Create new opportunities for residents – giving tenants and leaseholders more influence over decisions.
- Strengthen long-term stability – combining financial strength to protect services for the future.
This proposal is about partnership and long-term improvement, not short-term change.
Your home, your voice
Watch this video to find out more about the potential merger, why it is being proposed and how residents could benefit from being part of a larger Community Gateway housing association.
What this means for you
We understand that you’ll want to know how this could affect you directly.
If the merger goes ahead:
- Your tenancy, lease or rent agreement will stay the same.
- Your rights and responsibilities will not change.
- The way you pay rent or access services will remain the same for now.
- You’ll keep your local contacts and services during and after the transition.
- You’ll have continued opportunities to influence and shape the new organisation.
We are not proposing any changes to rent, service charges, or tenancy terms as part of this merger.
How to have your say
You can take part in several ways:
Click here to complete our online survey now.
A print version is also available on request.
Attend one of our drop-in sessions – see below for details.
Call Tpas on 0800 731 1619 for a free confidential chat. All calls go through to voicemail so you can leave a message and they will call you back within one working day.
Email Tpas at merger-consultation@tpas.org.uk
The inbox is monitored and they will respond within two working days.
Drop-in events and online sessions
Come along to our drop-in events to find out more or share your views. There's no need to book – just drop in at a time that suits you.
Tuesday 9 December – 6pm – online
Access the session using this link.
Tuesday 16 December – 1.30pm to 4pm – in person
Watford Community Housing, Gateway House, 59 Clarendon Road, WD17 1LA
Limited visitor parking available – please use nearby town centre facilities including paid on-street parking in St Johns Road
Saturday 10 January 2026 – 10am to 1.30pm – in person
Watford Rural Parish Council Offices, Oxhey Drive, South Oxhey, WD19 7TX
Parking available in Henbury Way
Thursday 15 January 2026 – 4.30pm to 6.30pm – in person
Thrive Homes Office (next to shop) 180 St Hugh’s Avenue, High Wycombe, BUCKS, HP13 7TX
Thursday 22 January 2026 – 1pm to 3pm – online
Access the session using this link.
Saturday 24 January 2026 – 11am to 1pm – in person
Leavesden Green Community Hub, Clarke Way, Watford, WD25 0BW
What will happen next
We want to make sure you know exactly what to expect over the coming months. Below is our current timeline for the merger consultation and decision process.
Stage | What is happening | When |
Consultation launch | The formal resident consultation opens, giving everyone a chance to share views online, by phone, email or in person. | 26 November 2025 |
Drop-in sessions | We’ll host in-person and online sessions where you can meet teams from both organisations, ask questions and give feedback directly. | December 2025 – January 2026 |
Consultation closes | The consultation period will end and all responses will be reviewed and analysed by Tpas. | 1 February 2026 |
Feedback and decision | We’ll publish a report written by Tpas of what we heard and both Boards will consider the findings before making a final decision. | March 2026 |
We’ll keep this timeline updated as the process progresses, so you always know what’s happening and when.
Frequently asked questions on the consultation process
The consultation gives every resident the opportunity to share their views and help shape what happens next in the decision-making process.
The Boards have agreed to explore a possible merger, but no final decision will be made until after the consultation has closed and all resident feedback has been independently analysed.
A final decision is expected in March 2026.
They are responsible for ensuring that the consultation is:
- Fair
- Transparent
- Independent
- Accessible to all residents
- Collect all feedback
- Analyse responses
- Run drop-in sessions
- Provide confidential routes to share your views
- Produce an independent report for the Boards
Online survey
Click here to complete our online survey now. Print copies are available on request.
Freephone
Call 0800 731 1619 and leave a message.
A Tpas adviser will call you back within one working day. (Calls go to voicemail first so they can direct your message appropriately.)
Email merger-consultation@tpas.org.uk — monitored Monday to Friday, with responses within two working days.
Drop-in sessions
Attend one of our in-person or online events to speak directly with staff and Tpas. You are welcome to bring a friend, family member or carer — or they can attend on your behalf.
- Tuesday 9 December 2025 — 6pm — We will share the link here before the event
- Tuesday 16 December 2025 — 1.30pm–4pm Gateway House, 59 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1LA
- Saturday 10 January 2026 — 10am–1.30pm South Oxhey Parish Council Office, Oxhey Dr, WD19 7SB
- Thursday 15 January 2026 — 4.30pm–6.30pm Thrive Homes Office, 180 St Hughs Avenue, High Wycombe, HP13 7TX
- Thursday 22 January 2026 — 1pm–3pm — We will share the link here before the event
- Saturday 24 January 2026 — 11am–1pm Leavesden Green Community Hub, Clarke Way, Watford, WD25 0BW
- Tpas reviews and analyses all feedback.
- Tpas produces an independent report reflecting what residents have said.
- The Boards of Watford Community Housing and Thrive Homes consider the findings before making a final decision.
- A summary of feedback and the Board decision will be published in March 2026.
We will publish:
- A summary of resident feedback
- The Boards’ decision
- Next steps for both organisations
More information
You can find out more about the proposed merger on our dedicated page here. The page includes a full set of frequently asked questions about the proposal and what it would mean for residents.