Merger Consultation - FAQs

Why Are You Thinking About Merging? 

Estuary and CHP both know how important it is to keep improving customer service, looking after existing homes, and building more affordable homes across Essex. 

We’ve spent time exploring whether joining together could help us do more. It’s clear that merging could bring real benefits. Both organisations are locally focused, forward-thinking, and well respected. By combining our strengths, we could create a new, stronger organisation that’s better placed to meet the needs of current and future customers. 

As we shared in our initial press release, Ian Martin, Estuary's Chief Executive, and Paul Edwards, CHP's Chief Executive, believe in the potential of this merger: 

"Estuary and CHP share clear strategic alignment, and this is a brilliant opportunity to bring together two strong organisations into one, which is why we believe there’s merit in further exploring a merger. We’re already committed individually to positively contributing to tackling the housing crisis within Essex. Together, we’d be a powerful influence on future housing strategy and further development in the county.” 

“We share similar visions, values and culture, as well as matching geography. We think these similarities are huge benefits that would allow us to work effectively together to deliver the best possible service to our customers.” 


Why Now? 

Right now, housing associations are facing tough challenges – from rising costs to increasing demand for affordable homes, and our location amplifies some of these problems. 

Both Estuary and CHP have recently reviewed their Corporate Strategies, and exploring the merger is part of how we could deliver our new strategies. 

Merging as one organisation has the potential to bring us the financial capacity to achieve our shared ambitions faster, more effectively, and with greater resilience than either organisation could do alone, benefiting both current and future customers. 


How Would Estuary and CHP Merge? 

The proposal is that Estuary will undertake a transfer of engagements to CHP and both organisations would combine to form a single organisation with a new name. 

 

What Are the Main Benefits of the Merger? 

Estuary and CHP are strong on their own – but we believe we’d be even stronger together. 

Joining forces could give us more financial strength, so that we could do more for our customers. We share similar values, work in similar areas, and have a lot in common when it comes to how we work and what we want to achieve. As a single, bigger organisation, this wouldn’t change, and we hope that coming together will help us do things better and faster. 

If the merger goes ahead, we could: 

  • Build more affordable homes.
  • Invest more in looking after existing homes.
  • Provide better services to customers.
  • Respond more effectively to local housing needs. 

 

Are There Any Downsides? 

We don’t believe so, based on a process of investigation into one another. Based on the work we’ve done so far, we see the merger as a positive step and haven’t identified any disadvantages. 

It would take some time and resources to bring the people, services and systems of both organisations together. We recognise that in the short term, there might be a small risk of disruption to the level of service you receive from us as we do this. In the longer term, we believe that a merged organisation would help us improve services and result in an even better customer experience. 

Over the past few months, we’ve been looking at the benefits and downsides of merging in more detail through a process called ‘due diligence’. The results of this due diligence, along with what you tell us in this consultation, will help us make our final decision about whether to merge. 


Who is CHP? How Do They Compare to Estuary? 

CHP is a housing association based in Chelmsford. They own more than 12,500 homes – mostly general needs housing, with some shared ownership, leasehold and market rent homes. They also work across Essex, Suffolk and East Hertfordshire. 

Estuary Housing Association owns around 4,700 homes. These are mostly general needs, with some supported housing, leasehold, and market rent. Our focus is South Essex, with some homes in East London and Suffolk. Our head office is in Southend. 

Since 2024, we’ve reported our performance based on the Regulator of Social Housing’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs). They assess how well landlords are doing in providing good quality homes and services. You can find our latest TSM results on our website: www.estaury.co.uk/tenant-satisfaction-measures. You can also view CHP’s TSM results on their website: www.chp.org.uk/tenant-satisfaction-measures.


Why do Estuary and CHP Make a Good Match? 

There are several reasons why we believe this partnership would work well: 

  • Our corporate plans and ambitions for the future are very similar – we both want to improve services, invest in homes, and grow responsibly. 
  • We work in overlapping areas, mostly across Essex.
  • We have complementary finances, which would give the merged organisation greater financial strength. 
  • Our values are closely aligned – we both put customers, colleagues, and communities at the heart of what we do. 

 

What Would the Merger Mean for Me and Other Estuary Customers?

Nothing will change unless it’s agreed that the merger will proceed. It's business as usual for both Estuary and CHP. Our priority remains the same: to continue improving the services we provide to our customers. 


Will my Rent or Service Charges Change? 

No. Your rent and service charge would not change as a direct result of the merger. Your rent and service charge would continue to be reviewed each year in the same way that they are now. Where you are a tenant, the current protections over how much your rent can increase by year on year (as set out by the Regulator of Social Housing) would continue. 


Will my Tenancy Remain the Same? 

Yes, the merger would not affect your relationship with us as a customer. Your right to live in your home would stay the same. 

 

I’m a Leaseholder; How Will this Affect Me? 

The terms of your lease, your statutory rights and the services you receive would stay the same. 


I Live in a Shared Ownership Home; How Will this Affect Me? 

The terms of your shared ownership agreement, rights and the services you receive would stay the same. 


Will the Merger Affect my Welfare Benefits? 

No. Your welfare benefits will remain the same unless your own personal circumstances change. 


Will the Services I Receive Change, Like Cleaning or Grounds Maintenance? 

You'll receive the same services you currently do, there are no current proposals for these to change as part of the merger. In the short term, there might be some disruption to the level of service you receive (please see question on potential disadvantages above). 


How Will I Know When Things Change? 

It’s still business as usual…. we’ll let you of any changes in advance. If the merger is approved by the Boards of Estuary and CHP, it is anticipated that the merger would occur in April 2026. 


How Would Customers be Able to Influence the Way Any New Merged Organisation Operates? 

We’re committed to providing ways for you to get involved and help us improve our services. We want to know what’s important to you and how we can improve our offer. 

These opportunities to have your say will continue after the consultation ends as we are keen for you to influence how we design and deliver our services going forward. Further information regarding how you can get involved will be circulated to those who express their interest to get involved as part of the consultation.