A Brief History
Eldon Housing Association Ltd was formed in 1981 to assume full responsibility for the housing and homes for the elderly provided by the Croydon Guild of Voluntary Organisations, now known as Croydon Voluntary Action. We are a non-profit making organisation registered as a Charity under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
Our portfolio comprises general, sheltered, flexible care, extra care and semi independent housing all within the London Borough of Croydon plus a flexible care sheltered housing scheme in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
The aims and objectives of Eldon Housing Association Ltd are the provision of housing and associated amenities for people in housing need. We seek to maintain a high standard of management with a commitment to quality of service and tenant participation.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunities and welcome applicants having close ties with Croydon regardless of age, race, ethnic or national origins, religion, sex, physical ability, appearance, marital status, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment.
The Association has not only grown in size over the years in terms of buildings but has diversified into providing support and consultation services to other Housing Associations and is a registered Domiciliary Care Agency.
We are a secure partner with Croydon Council and provide Facilities Management services to their older person’s specialist accommodation PFI project; know as Homes for the Future (New for Old) PFI Project.
Visions Mission Values
Our Vision
To be the best provider of affordable housing for older and vulnerable people within our area of operation.
Our Mission
Providing accessible and sustainable housing, supported by flexible and reliable services.
Our Values
Passionate, professional and operating with integrity
Caring about customers, staff and business
Respectful – listening and approachable
Innovative – always working to improve
Tenants’ Charter
We are committed to delivering a high quality service and have adopted the following:-
Tenants’ Charter
we will…
- maintain your home, keeping this and all communal areas in good repair, and will complete repairs within our target response times.
- support you in maintaining your tenancy through our Care & Support services or by signposting you to appropriate service providers.
- respect you treating you with courtesy at all times ensuring all our staff are polite, professional and trained to provide a high standard of service.
- deal with enquiries quickly and efficiently, replying to voicemail messages within 2 working days and responding to correspondence within 10 working days and when writing to you we will always use plain English.
- regularly consult with you to ensure we are providing the services that meet your needs and have your views taken into account when making decisions that relate to your home or the care & services provided.
- keep you informed through Tenant Meetings, our Tenants’ Panel, The Link magazine, newsletters and one-to- one meetings.
Strategic Objectives
The Association has recently updated is Strategic Objections for years 2016 – 2020 and its Senior Management Team have produced an action plan to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved within the 5 year time frame.
Finance and Compliance
To ensure we remain financially viable with sufficient resources to meet our mission, contractual commitments and regulatory requirements by:-
- continuing to maximise income through rent and service charges and partnership contracts.
- investing in our properties to ensure they continue to meet the needs of our present and future stakeholders.
- maintaining compliance with Loan Covenants, Regulatory Standards and the National Housing Federation’s Code of Governance
Sustainability
To strengthen our business and maintain our position as an independent Housing Association by:-
- reviewing the future of our Domiciliary Care Agency
- considering the expansion of our Facilities Management services
- considering the expansion of our Administration services
- considering possible mergers or acquisitions
- identifying partners to work with to meet our objectives and agree how we will work with them
Life Chances
To enhance the life chances of our tenants by:-
- continuing to encourage and support tenants to remain independent including signposting tenants to groups, clubs and providing information and support on volunteering
- empowering tenants to be involved, as much or as little as they wish, with the running of their home and the services they receive
- assisting our tenants to access benefits in order to enhance their economic wellbeing
People
To attract and retain skilled and motivated staff and continue to invest in our people to maintain our performance by:-
- retaining an aspirational and motivated leadership team
- continuing to recognise and acknowledge the value of our staff
- continuing to provide tailor made training and development programmes
- providing the best possible working conditions
Services
To be a high performing Housing Association which delivers services that are valued by its stakeholders and the wider community by:-
- constantly reviewing our services and contracts to ensure high standards are maintained
- continuing to assess through consultation the level and quality of services our stakeholders need
- achieving a Customer Services Excellence accreditation.
Governance
To maintain high standards of governance by:
- Adopting the National Housing Federation’s Code of Governance (2015 Edition).
- Ensuring the voluntary Board of Management comprises people with relevant professional skills and expertise to manage the current business and support our desired objectives.
- Enabling our Board of Management to take responsibility for policy, the overall management of the Association and to plan and direct the Association’s strategy effectively.
Board of Management and Senior Management Team
Board of Management
Our multi-skilled Board of Management is lead by our Chair, Hony Premal.
Our Board meets quarterly and is responsible for the governance and strategic direction of the Association ensuring that our obligations to our tenants and clients are understood and met
Board members bring their specific skills to our Audit & Risk Committee who meet regularly to review the performance of the Association against our strategic objectives, budget and targets.
Board of Management – Profiles
Hony Premlal MBA, CIHCM
Hony is Chair of our Board and has 25 years of experience in the housing sector and the last 10 years on a Senior Management level. Hony is a passionate, inspirational social housing professional with significant experience at Director and Non-Exec level. She brings strategic reorganisation, housing management, asset management, property compliance, customer engagement and customer services experience to our Board. She has a keen interest in customer engagement and is passionate about ensuring customers’ voices are placed at the heart of decision-making processes.
Hony is also serving as a Board member of Epsom and Ewell Citizens Advice and Women in Social Housing (WISH).
Anne Chapman, BA (Hons), PgDip., CIHCM
Anne is the Deputy Chair of the Board of Management at Eldon. A practising solicitor for more than 20 years, Anne is also Assistant Director – Governance and Compliance at Golding Homes which is one of the largest not-for-profit housing associations in the South East. In addition, Anne is the Vice Chair of the Governing Board for the CIH, the Chair of the Audit and Risk Board for the CIH and Vice Chair at the national charity We Are With You which provides support to people experiencing issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health.
Dan Gower-Smith CMgr FCMI
Has worked within the social care sector for over 16 years. Dan started his career as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities and associated conditions and progressed to a Registered Manager, Area Manager and is currently a Regional Director all within the social care sector.
Michael Chinn FCCA, CPFA
Michael joined Saxon Weald as Executive Director of Resources in March 2020. Before moving into the housing sector, he trained in Practice Accountancy. He was previously Deputy Finance Director of a medium sized housing association in West London and then Director of Finance at a Croydon association. He is also a Board Member and Audit Committee Member of Gateway Housing in East London.
Kristian Melgaard
Kristian is an interim Housing Executive at the Royal Borough of Greenwich and has worked in the affordable housing sector for 18 years and has occupied a variety of senior housing roles at both registered providers and local authorities.
He brings a wealth of experience in housing operations, customer services, asset management, development and sales.
Vhairi MacRae
Vhairi is an experienced Communications and Change consultant working with various global companies to deliver cultural, behavioural and business change, internal, external and corporate communications, reputation risk management, crisis management and stakeholder engagement.
Grant Livingston
A Company Director of a provider of specialised supported housing. Grant has experience of investment banking as a portfolio manager, distressed debt and credit analysis.
Nannette Sakyi BA(Hons) MA
Nannette is an experienced Housing professional with a track record of successfully developing new build properties, winning new business, delivering business change and project management within the public sector. Nannette’s experience of over 15 years ranges from New build development, operational management and delivery through to strategy and service improvement, stakeholder management and business transformation. Nannette holds a Master’s degree in Housing and is passionate about developing much needed homes for families.
Karen Harvey
Karen currently runs her own consultancy business providing interim HR Director and consultancy services, including coaching, to many different sectors. She is a chartered psychologist and a Fellow of the CIPD.
She has previously been a HR Director in several large organisations including housing associations.
