Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you converting to a Community Benefit Society (CBS)?
The majority of social housing registered providers have already converted to a Community Benefit Society (CBS) registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. A CBS is an exempt charity not subject to Charities Act rules but still maintains a charitable status by converting to a CBS, we will achieve a more streamlined structure, make our processes more efficient and have less regulatory requirements, as the current requirements under the Charities Act and the Companies Act will fall away. For more information on the regulation of a registered provider please visit this website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/brief-guide-to-regulation-of-registered-providers
When will this happen?
We aim to convert from April 2022 to align with the start of our financial year.
What will this mean to me?
The conversion won’t directly impact residents and we will continue to provide services to you as normal.
Why are you changing your name?
We’ve had our name for over 15 years and we’ve changed significantly since we were created. As the Board approved a conversion to a Community Benefit Society it made sense to rebrand at the same time so we could change alongside the conversion. We’ve grown over the years and developed outside of the Vale (into Oxfordshire and South Northamptonshire) so having Aylesbury in our name didn’t make sense. We also wanted to move away from links to the old district council especially following their merger with the County Council. This means we can continue to operate as an independent Registered Provider.
How much is a rebrand going to cost?
Value for money is important to us and doing the rebrand at the same time as converting to a CBS will create significant savings. We were considering a rebrand during the next five years as part of our company strategy, so now seemed like a good time. We worked with employees and residents on the renaming of our company and we're pleased that Fairhive Homes Limited was suggested by our residents! Other areas requiring brand updates would have happened as part of our five year strategy: Bigger, Better, Bolder and Beyond.
Which residents were consulted about this decision?
We’ve been working closely with members of our involved residents and resident Board members who form part of our project Board group. Updates are also provided to our Resident Forum members. If you want to get involved and provide your feedback on the next stage of our project to help us develop our website, from April 2022, then please contact us at hello@fairhive.co.uk.
Will I still have the right to buy my home?
Yes, if you have the right to buy your home now then this won’t change.
Will Bucks Home Choice still be available?
Yes it will. Bucks Home Choice is managed by Buckinghamshire County Council.
Will you still maintain our homes?
Yes. We will continue to be your landlord and maintain your home as we currently do.
Will upgrades to kitchens and bathrooms still happen?
Yes we will continue to update kitchens and bathrooms as part of our existing improvement plan.
Does this mean you won’t be my landlord anymore?
No, we will remain as the Registered Social Landlord. You will continue to pay rent as you normally do. However you may notice on your statements that rent is paid to Fairhive Homes Limited instead of Aylesbury Vale Housing Trust.
How do I contact you in the future, from April 2022?
You can still contact us using all our existing channels, via the My HomeHub app or our telephone number which won’t change from 01296 732600. Email addresses will move to our new name @Fairhive.co.uk but if you accidently email our old @vaht.co.uk email address your communication will be redirected to our new email address.
