Halton Housing Trust is a not for profit housing association that owns and manages 6,100 homes in the Cheshire towns of Widnes and Runcorn. We were formed in December 2005 following the transfer of homes from Halton Borough Council.

We are committed to delivering the promises made to our customers during the transfer consultation - providing quality homes, quality services and quality communities.

The Trust provides a range of services, but our primary focus is on providing housing that benefits the local community and creates communities where people want to live. We provide affordable homes for people who may not have the means to buy or rent a home privately, help people who are homeless and provide support to older or disabled people to help them live independently in their own home.  We have a clear focus and are passionate about putting our customers first so that they enjoy living in a Halton Housing Trust home. Around 100 homes are used for supported housing, helping a wide range of people live a full and inclusive role within the local community.

We are a not-for-profit housing association, officially called a Registered Provider, and are regulated by the Tenant Services Authority.

In addition to providing homes, we also recognise the wider role and contribution housing services make within the neighbourhoods in which we work.  Our Corporate Plan seeks to develop our contributions further to maximise the impact of our work within local communities and neighbourhoods.

We have been recognised by our regulators, the Tenant Services Authority, as being well governed, well managed and financially viable. We work closely with our funders, Lloyds TSB, to ensure that we operate within the covenants of our funding agreement and deliver the business plan agreed with them.

As a registered charity, we can reduce the amount of tax we pay allowing us to spend more on things that matter to our customers such as improving homes and estates and providing better services. We can also apply for external funding such as government grants.

The Trust is managed by an unpaid Board of Directors made up of five local councillors, five customers and five independent board members. We employ over 240 people including a 80-strong team of trades people in our Construction Services Team.

Work is now well underway on a 10 year, £133 million improvement programme which will see all our homes reach the Decent Homes Standard by December 2009. This major investment will make a real difference to people's lives by improving properties and creating safe communities.

The Trust has a gross rental income of £21 million for 2008/09 (full year).  Average weekly rents, on a 52-week basis and net of service charges, are £62.22. The average cost of management is £23.13 per home and the average weekly cost of repairs is £11.36 per home.

The housing mix in 2008 totalled 6,057 homes, a mix of low-rise flats, housing, one high rise block and 8% of non-traditional properties.  The composition of our homes includes the following property types: