Housing associations plan 44,000-home merger

Housing associations Accent Group and Paragon Asra Housing have launched partnership discussions to create a single landlord with almost 44,000 homes. PA has 23,200 homes in London, Surrey and the Midlands. Accent has 20,700 homes in the North, Midlands and the South East. Both housing associations have G1/V1 regulatory ratings. The pair said a final decision would be made by their boards in the coming months. The merger talks follow similar plans from Sanctuary and Southern Housing Group last month to create the UK’s largest housing association, with 130,000 homes and a combined annual turnover of £1bn. It comes as housing associations continue to seek ways to protect their businesses amid a rise in costs with income squeezed.   To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette