Thank you to everyone who gave us their feedback in June and July 2023 about the proposed merger with Network Homes, and told us what’s most important to you throughout this transition. We received 5,705 responses, representing about 9% of our homes.
51% of those who responded said they were aware that a merger was planned so we’re glad that the extra information we shared online, by email, SMS and in the post, gave everyone a chance to learn more.
UPDATE - In September, both boards formally agreed to proceed with the merger and this took place on 1 October 2023, creating SNG (Sovereign Network Group).
Attitude to the merger
63% felt ‘neutral’ about the proposed merger, 23% felt very or quite negative and 14% felt very or quite positive.
Attitude to the merger:
- 5% - very positive
- 9% - quite positive
- 63% - neutral
- 12% - quite negative
- 11% - very negative
Merger ambitions
Respondents rated the most important merger ambitions as:
- Investing in existing and new homes
- Service improvement
Investing in existing and new homes for all:
- 49% - very important
- 25% - important
- 19% - neutral
- 2% - not important
- 5% - not at all important
Improving the service we provide:
- 47% - very important
- 20% - important
- 25% - neutral
- 3% - not important
- 5% - not at all important
Giving you more opportunities to tell us what you think:
- 37% - very important
- 29% - important
- 27% - neutral
- 3% - not important
- 4% - not at all important
Significant funding for community projects:
- 30% - very important
- 32% - important
- 29% - neutral
- 5% - not important
- 5% - not at all important
What’s most important to customers
We asked “If we merge, we believe we can bring the best of both organisations into one. How important are the following to you?” The top ranked items were:
- Maintaining and repairing your home (92% very important/important)
- Making your home more energy efficient (89% very important/important)
Maintaining and repairing your home:
- 78% - very important
- 14% - important
- 6% - neutral
- 1% - not important
- 1% - not at all important
Making your home more energy efficient:
- 70% - very important
- 19% - important
- 9% - neutral
- 1% - not important
- 1% - not at all important
Having a planned programme for kitchen & bathroom replacement:
- 62% - very important
- 21% - important
- 12% - neutral
- 2% - not important
- 3% - not at all important
Giving you more ways to get in touch with us e.g. online & apps:
- 47% - very important
- 28% - important
- 19% - neutral
- 3% - not important
- 3% - not at all important
Building more new homes:
- 32% - very important
- 28% - important
- 26% - neutral
- 7% - not important
- 6% - not at all important
Setting up a community foundation for local investment:
- 24% - very important
- 31% - important
- 35% - neutral
- 5% - not important
- 5% - not at all important
Feedback from Network Homes customers
Network Homes ran a similar exercise and received 361 responses from residents of its 21,000 homes.
70% of those who responded said they were aware of the merger.
41% were not positive about it, 35% felt ‘neutral’ and 24% felt very/quite positive.
On investing in homes, respondents rated the most important merger ambition as ‘Improving the quality of existing homes’, followed by ‘Regenerating estates’ and then ‘Building 25,000 new homes’.
‘Supporting older people’ and ‘Helping those struggling because of cost-of-living increases’ mattered most to residents about having a new Community Foundation.
When asked “If we merge, we believe we can bring the best of both organisations into one. How important are the following to you?” the two top ranked options were the same as for Sovereign customers:
- Maintaining and repairing your home (92% very important/important)
- Making your home more energy efficient (81% very important/important)
You can read a summary of the feedback they received here 
.