REG - Great Places Housing - Q2 performance update

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RNS Number : 6324H  Great Places Housing Group Limited  14 November 2025

 

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE UPDATE

Covering performance for the period ending 30 September 2025

Great Places Housing Group

Our performance updates provide regular, timely information regarding the
performance of the Group. They are published quarterly, within six weeks of
the quarter end.

The information included is based on unaudited management accounts and other
internal performance measures.

 

 

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: QUARTER TWO

Surplus before tax in quarter two to September 2025 was £12.7m, £0.3m better
than budget. Operating margin was 22.8% with full year forecast at 24.6%,
slightly below the internal golden rule of 25% but well above the sector norm.
 Covenants for interest cover and gearing have been met.

Drawn debt (excluding bond/loan premium and loan fees) was £798m, increasing
from £768m last quarter due to £30m net drawdowns on revolving credit
facility (RCF) loans.

Cash held (excluding cash held on behalf of others or unavailable for use) was
£20m.  Undrawn bank agreed facilities was £468m, decreasing from £498m
last quarter due to the £30m RCF drawdowns.

Mark to market exposure at September 25 was £2.7m with nil cash collateral
posted to meet counterparties' security requirements.  During quarter two we
executed trades for £50m of interest rate derivatives across multiple lenders
in a competitive process, fixing rates over 3 to 5 years at below business
plan rates.

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Our Signals for Success (SfS) continue to guide our performance across homes,
customers, people, and financial viability. Quarter 2 has seen continued
progress in key areas, alongside targeted actions to address emerging
challenges.

Our Homes

At the end of September, 532 homes had started on site, and we expect to
contract the commencement of 1,722 homes by the end of the financial year.

The number of homes below EPC C stood at 2,446 at quarter-end. This reflects a
net reduction of 94 homes since April. Delivery plans for the remainder of the
year, including projects funded by the Warm Homes fund and ECO4 confirm that
we are on track to achieve the year-end target based on our current EPC
methodology.

Our Customers

Customer satisfaction remains strong, with a year-to-date score of 77.9%,
above the Housemark median and reflecting sustained improvement compared to
previous years. Key drivers continue to be responsiveness, fairness,
communication, and home safety.

EDI data completion rose to 63.9%. Data collection is embedding well through
tenancy sign-ups and will be further strengthened from November through a
revised approach to damp aligned with Awaab's Law alongside collection via a
wider range of customer interactions. This insight is informing service
design, engagement strategies and neighbourhood planning.

Repairs satisfaction remained strong at 77.4% year to date, with positive
reinforcement from transactional surveys and Trustpilot reviews. While speed
of completion saw a slight dip to 73.6% for this quarter, work is already
underway through our Repairs Review to improve productivity and streamline
service delivery, ensuring we continue to build on the solid foundations
already in place.

Our People

Our measure of colleague engagement (Colleague Procedures, Policies, and Work
Practices) remains stable at 7.2 out of 10, and provides a strong platform for
future improvement. We continue to support colleagues with investment in
technology, with new tablets to support more colleagues to spend time on site
with customers.  In addition, we are working with colleagues to improve data
accuracy, and these developments are set to positively shape colleague
experience and service delivery into 2026/27.

A new training programme for recruiting managers has been developed to improve
selection and induction of new colleagues.

Financial Viability

EBITDA MRI interest cover was 148.7% at the end of September, in part
reflecting the timing of expenditure. The major investment programmes are
expected to catch up during the year meaning a year-end forecast at 102.9%,
slightly ahead of budget.

Current tenant arrears remained stable at 3.5%, supported by automation
improvements in arrears management and strong cross-team working. Despite new
homes coming into management, total cash arrears decreased by £60,000 in Q2.

Rent lost due to voids was 0.88%, continuing to trend downward. Relet times
and turnover remain positive.

Shared ownership sales metrics remain strong, with homes selling on average
within 6.7 weeks of handover, well ahead of target. The combined value of
homes sold together with those reserved and on hold is in excess of the full
year target.

CORPORATE NEWS
£49.9m Grant Secured to Deliver 509 New Affordable Homes

Great Places has secured funding to support the delivery of affordable homes
across the North West and South Yorkshire, to be completed by March 2029.
 This builds on our existing Strategic Partnership with Homes England. In
total, Great Places will deliver 5,023 new affordable homes under the
programme, receiving a total of £331 million grant.  Flagship schemes funded
by this grant include Stockport's Town Centre West, Grey Mare Lane in East
Manchester, and the UK's first LGBTQ+ majority extra care scheme in Whalley
Range, Manchester.

Fitch Revises Outlook to Negative; Rating Affirmed at 'A'

In October, Fitch Ratings revised Great Places' credit outlook to Negative,
while affirming its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating at 'A'. The revised
outlook reflects anticipated increases in borrowing as Great Places completes
the development programme, supported by grant funding from Homes England.
Alongside other major housing associations Great Places is responding to
evolving regulatory requirements and making investment in new and existing
homes.

Matt Foreman Appointed Chief Customer Officer

Matt Foreman has been appointed as Chief Customer Officer, effective Spring
2026. Matt brings over 29 years of experience in social housing, including
leadership roles at L&Q and Trafford Housing Trust. He will succeed Guy
Cresswell, who will step down after 32 years of dedicated service. Matt's
appointment supports our commitment to delivering excellent customer outcomes
and aligns with the ambitions of our Corporate Plan, Here For Our Customers.

ESG Report Highlights Community Impact and Sustainability Progress

Our recently released 2024/25 ESG Report showcases significant progress across
environmental, social and governance priorities. Highlights include 83.6% of
homes achieving EPC C or above, over 966 people supported into employment and
training, and £750,000 secured in additional funding for customer wellbeing.
The report also outlines our new Sustainability Strategy, targeting carbon
neutrality by 2050 and improved customer engagement through enhanced service
platforms and inclusive service design.

Planning Approval for Grey Mare Lane Regeneration Scheme

Planning approval has been granted for the first phase of the Grey Mare Lane
regeneration scheme in East Manchester. The £20 million development will
deliver 82 high-quality apartments for social rent, featuring private gardens,
balconies, and communal green spaces. Developed in partnership with Manchester
City Council, One Manchester and This City, the scheme is a key milestone in
the wider masterplan to deliver 1,000 new homes and revitalise the
neighbourhood.

Other news

For other news see our website News & Blog - Great Places
(https://www.greatplaces.org.uk/news-and-blog/page/3/)

 

FEEDBACK

We welcome feedback on our performance update. Please contact Mike Gerrard,
Chief Financial Officer, at communications@greatplaces.org.uk

The information included within this report is for information purposes only.
The financial results quoted are unaudited. The report may contain forward
looking statements and actual outcomes may differ materially. No statement in
the report is intended to be a profit estimate or forecast. We do not
undertake to revise such statements if our expectations change in response to
events. This report does not constitute legal, tax, accounting or investment
advice.

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