Devonshires advises English Rural Housing Association on merger with Gloucestershire social landlord

Law firm Devonshires has advised English Rural Housing Association on a merger, through a transfer of engagements, with Gloucester Rural Housing Association (GRHA).

The transfer means that English Rural now manages more than 1,500 rural homes.

The GRHA deal follows the Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society (TCCHS) becoming a subsidiary in June last year.

The merger with GRHA, by voluntary transfer of engagements, “allows English Rural to grow while offering residents better value for money and increased resources, along with a planned programme of investment in existing homes and environmental improvements where required”, Devonshires said.

The firm added: “The transfer also provides a boost to English Rural’s ambitions to work in partnership with rural communities in Gloucestershire, to deliver even more affordable homes for low income households unable to afford a home of their own.”

Martin Collett, Chief Executive of English Rural, said “This merger aligns with our purpose to provide and manage affordable rural homes. By consolidating our resources and knowledge, we can offer our residents an exemplary service and quality homes. Our strategic approach to being open to mergers and transfers with smaller rural housing association is driven by our view that we can safeguard their values, whilst applying greater combined investment in homes and service. Importantly, we can do this without compromising on our shared rural mission."

Gemma Bell, partner at Devonshires who advised on the acquisition, said: “We are delighted to have been able to assist with this important acquisition that will see more much needed affordable housing provided for families in rural areas.

“English Rural carry out vital work in communities where many local people have difficulty in finding an affordable home and this merger furthers their commitment to providing more houses for those who need them most and supporting rural communities. We are proud to have been able to help make this merger happen.”