A ground-breaking survey carried out by Genesis Housing Group has shown that social housing tenants want a new relationship with their landlords.

The Building Futures report, launched this week by Genesis at an event attended by Professor John Hills of the London School of Economics, was based on a detailed survey of over 3,000 Genesis customers. It examined their aspirations, the services they want and their views of what a social landlord should do.

The study is already helping to shape new services and Genesis' future relationship with its customers, but has also brought to light many findings which will have resonance across the social housing sector and with government, as it looks to redefine the role of social housing.

Headline findings include:

• 90% of customers feel Genesis should do more to help those who want to buy a home

• Four out of ten customers would pay a higher rent in return for a stake in their home and 97% would consider buying a 5% stake if their financial circumstances were better

• 57% of customers were positive about the idea of social landlords providing a 'hybrid housing solution', such as homes at market rents but with more security than an assured shorthold tenancy

• Over half of customers felt social homes should be made available to people other than just the poorest in society

• Half of all customers were positive about paying a higher rent for an enhanced service, and over half favoured paying a lower rent in return for taking on more responsibilities, like carrying out repairs

• 37% of customers are in full-time employment and of those who are unemployed, 40% have been so for over three years. 20% of those unemployed do not know why they have problems finding work

• Eight out of ten customers feel housing associations should offer support to projects that benefit the wider community

Genesis Housing Group Chief Executive, Anu Vedi, said "Building Futures shows social housing customers want a different relationship with their landlord; one based on trust and maturity and where the landlord supports their ambitions and aspirations for the future. Our customers are aware of and understand the relationship between employment and housing and see a role for us in supporting them in their progress around both these issues.

"Genesis is already responding to the findings. We have established the Your Place project, designed to give our customers more choice and flexibility in their housing and at promoting social mobility. Getting a social housing tenancy should be part of a housing journey - a staging post, not a terminus. We have to find better ways of supporting people to reach their housing aspirations."

Professor John Hills, keynote speaker at the Building Futures launch, said "Building Futures and the Your Place project contain very important ideas. The government is studying how to move social housing forward and is keen to hear specific examples of good practice. Building Futures and Your Place represent a valuable contribution to the debate.

"Even as we greatly increase the number of social homes built each year, new homes will only form a small proportion of the future housing stock. We have to get things right for existing tenants and be more creative about how we change the nature of our poorer areas. Social housing must be an opportunity, not a trap. The optimism apparent in Building Futures is both interesting and very positive."

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For more information or for a copy of the report please contact:

Jayne Williams
Marketing, Press & PR Officer
Genesis Housing Group
0208 150 4178
07738 458 586
jayne.williams@ghg.org.uk

or

Alex Gaze
Marketing, Press & PR Officer
Genesis Housing Group
0208 150 4755
07841 406 972
alex.gaze@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Genesis commissioned the independent researchers Market Research UK (mruk) to carry out the survey and analyse the findings. 3,026 Genesis customers were interviewed by telephone in the spring of 2007, giving results accurate to + or - 1.62% at the 95% confidence level, ie. the results have a very high degree of accuracy and reliability for customers across the Genesis housing stock.

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations. We also have in our group a charitable foundation, Genesis Community. We are one of the largest and most successful housing groups in the UK, owning and/or managing more than 40,000 homes. Our overriding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.