Edinburgh housing association joins Scotland largest social landlord
Barony has announced it is the latest housing association to join the Wheatley Group.
Edinburgh-based Barony has over 380 homes and provides care and support services to over 700 people.
Tenants voted to become part of the group after 92% voted to back the partnership.
Barony shareholding members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the required rule change and the Scottish Housing Regulator also gave the partnership the go-ahead.
The association will now work with other partners in the group, sharing services, costs and expertise to do more for customers and communities than it could have done if it remained on its own.
Wheatley, Scotland’s leading housing organisation, becomes the parent company while Barony keeps its name and identity and full responsibility for its homes and operations.
Tenants at Barony can now access services such as fuel and money advice, low-cost home insurance and jobs and training opportunities through Wheatley Pledge, a scheme which encourages Wheatley’s contractors and suppliers to do more for communities.
Martin Kelso, convenor of Barony’s board of management, said joining Wheatley would enable the organisation to respond better to the current and future financial challenges facing the housing and care sectors.
He said: “Wheatley’s expertise, skills and resources will enable us to deliver new and improved services to our tenants, service users and their families and will help us as we continue to strive for excellence in everything we do.”
Wheatley Group chair Alastair MacNish said: “We are delighted Barony has joined Wheatley Group with tenants already benefiting from some new and improved services. Barony brings further experience and expertise in housing, and care in particular, into our group and will help us deliver on our vision to provide innovative, personalised care and support services for more people in Scotland.”
Barony provides a range of homes, including general needs houses, supported accommodation and registered care homes in West Lothian, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Fife, and provides care and support services in Edinburgh, West Lothian, Fife, Stirling and Falkirk.
