Housing associations join forces with Brabners
COMMUNITY Housing Associations North West have joined forces with law firm Brabners in a collaboration aimed at improving the scope and value of legal services provided to the member housing associations.
The CHANW is a collective of social housing associations working together to deliver high quality and effective services to customers.
Members signed up to the collaboration include Merseyside based Alpha, Crosby Housing, Eldonian, Forum, Pierhead and Steve Biko.
In Manchester, Arawaak Walton, Arcon, Ashton Pioneer, People First and Prestwich and North Western have so far joined the collaboration. More associations are expected to sign-up to the agreement at a later date.
The collaboration with Brabners will enable members to develop and share common policies and core documents, rather than each paying legal advisers to undertake similar work, and will also include training sessions delivered by lawyers from Brabners to develop skills and knowledge within the associations.
Overall, the aim is to share legal knowledge to enable the associations to comply with their legal requirements, while providing budget certainty and transparency regarding legal costs, and meeting the value for money aims of the housing associations.
Ian Alderson, social housing partner at Brabners said: “With the financial pressures placed upon housing associations these days, this form of collaboration makes perfect commercial sense. We are delighted to have been chosen as the partner for CHANW, and look forward to supporting the members of the Community Housing Associations North West in achieving their aims.”
Mandy Elliott, chief executive at Crosby Housing said: “This is a bold and innovative step, and we will work together in true partnership to strengthen the business offering in our communities.”
