CHP and Estuary potential merger FAQs

Both CHP and Estuary have recognised the growing challenges across the housing sector and the importance of continuing to invest in customer service, the quality of our existing homes, and meeting housing need across Essex with more new affordable homes.

Through detailed discussions, it has become clear that the proposed merger between CHP and Estuary represents an exciting opportunity to bring together two locally focused, forward-thinking, and well-respected organisations to achieve positive outcomes for the customers we serve.

By exploring coming together, we could create something new built on the best of both organisations. One that's stronger and more resilient, shares similar values and goals, and is better equipped to serve the people of Essex now and in the future.  

The current operating environment for housing associations is very challenging. There are increased demands on the social housing sector, and our proximity to London heightens some of the issues. 

Both organisations have recently reviewed their Corporate Strategies, and exploring the merger is part of how we could deliver our new strategies.

Merging as one organisation has the potential to bring us the financial capacity to achieve our shared ambitions faster, more effectively, and with greater resilience than either organisation could do alone, benefiting both current and future customers. 

CHP and Estuary are strong independently, but we believe we’d be even stronger together. Our initial analysis has shown that coming together could bring increased financial capacity to help us do more than either organisation could do alone.

We have very similar ambitions for the future, values, and culture. We also share a similar geographic footprint, with most of our homes in the same areas. We’re both strongly connected to our local communities and focused on customers. As a single, bigger organisation, this wouldn’t change, and we hope that coming together will help us do things better and faster.  

As one organisation, we’d have greater capacity to improve services and maintain homes. We’re both committed to tackling the housing crisis, and joining together will also help us better address housing needs. We’d be able to build more new homes, increase investment in our existing homes, and provide better service to our customers.

From the work we’ve done in exploring the merger so far, we don’t think there are any disadvantages to our proposal in the long term.

It would take some time and resources to bring the people, services and systems of both organisations together. Therefore, we recognise that in the short term, there might be a small risk of disruption to the level of service you receive from us as we do this. In the longer term, we believe that a merged organisation would help us improve services and result in an even better customer experience.

Over the past few months, we’ve been looking at the benefits and downsides of merging in more detail through a process called ‘due diligence’. The results of this due diligence, along with what you tell us in this consultation, will help us make our final decision about whether to merge. 

CHP has more than 12,500 properties. These are mainly general needs, with some leasehold, shared ownership, and market rent housing. We're focused on Essex, with operations stretching into Suffolk and East Hertfordshire. Our head office is in Chelmsford.  

Estuary has 4,500 homes. These are mainly general needs, with some leasehold, market rent, and supported housing. They are focused on South Essex, with operations stretching into East London and Suffolk. Their head office is in Southend. 

Since 2024, we’ve reported our performance based on the Regulator of Social Housing’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs). They assess how well landlords are doing in providing good quality homes and services. You can find our latest TSM results on our website www.chp.org.uk/tenant-satisfaction-measures You can also view Estuary’s TSM results on its website www.estaury.co.uk/tenant-satisfaction-measures

If you don’t have access to the internet but would like to know more about our latest TSMs, please contact us on 0300 555 0500.

There are several reasons why CHP and Estuary are a strong match for a merger:

• Our corporate plans and ambitions for the future are remarkably similar — we both want to improve services, invest in homes, and grow responsibly.
• We operate in similar geographical areas.
• We complement each other financially, bringing an increased financial resilience.
• We have a shared culture: both organisations prioritise customers, communities, and colleagues. 

Nothing will change until a merger is agreed upon. It's business as usual for both CHP and Estuary. Our priority remains the same: to continue improving the services we provide to our customers.  

If agreed, the new organisation will become your landlord, and it will mean we’ll be able to start to implement all the positive changes outlined in the previous answers.  
 
Our customers will always be our priority and will be at the centre of every decision we make. We’ll keep you informed throughout and give you plenty of notice if there are any changes in the future.  

No. Your rent and/or service charges wouldn’t change as a direct result of the merger. Your rent and service charges would continue to be reviewed each year in the same way they are now. Where you are a tenant, the current protections over how much your rent can increase year on year (as set out by the Regulator of Social Housing) would continue. 

Yes, the merger wouldn't affect your relationship with us as a customer. Your right to live in your home would stay the same. 

The terms of your lease, your statutory rights and the services you receive would stay the same.

The terms of your shared ownership agreement, rights and the services you receive would stay the same.

No. Your welfare benefits will remain the same unless your own personal circumstances change.

You'll receive the same services you currently do; there are no current proposals for these to change as part of the merger. In the short term, there might be some disruption to the level of service you receive (please see question on potential disadvantages above). 

It’s still business as usual. We’ll let you know of any changes in advance.  If the merger is approved by the Boards of CHP and Estuary, it’s anticipated that the merger will occur in spring 2026.

We're committed to providing ways for you to get involved and help us improve our services. We're keen to hear what you think, what’s important to you and how we can improve our services. This would remain the same if the merger proposal goes ahead, and our commitment to hearing our customers’ voices and giving you opportunities to influence how we design and deliver our services remains a priority. We'll work with our current customer groups to make sure that your voice will continue to be heard on issues relating to local, regional and nationwide matters.