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Landlords merge to create UK’s largest BME registered provider
Two landlords have merged to create the largest Black and minority ethnic registered provider in the UK.
Inquilab Housing Association and Westway Housing Association, both based in west London, completed their tie-up on 1 April 2024.
The new organisation is called Karibu Community Homes, named after the Swahili word for ‘welcome’, and will have around 1,900 properties.
Dave Baptiste, chair of Westway, became chair of Karibu on 1 April, while Ricky Scipio, current chief executive of Westway, has been appointed managing director.
Mr Scipio will work alongside Gina Amoh, chief executive of Inquilab, for a six-month handover period before fully taking the reins as Karibu’s chief executive.
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Karibu said the merger, which was first announced in November 2023, would provide better services for customers, more investment in building and improving homes, and more opportunities to attract and retain staff.
Inquilab was the larger of the two associations with more than 1,350 properties. It was founded in 1986 in Southall by local Black and minority ethnic housing advocates.
Westway had more than 550 homes. It was founded as Grove Housing Association in 1987 when it took over running of a hostel in North Kensington from a local charity.
The move followed a consultation with residents, employees and stakeholders, Inquilab said, and was approved by the boards of both organisations on 28 February 2024.
Law firm Devonshires advised both parties on the merger.
Mr Baptiste said: “Great customer service is at the heart of everything we do. Therefore, the support of our customers, shareholders and people has been instrumental in our decision to merge.
“Together, as Karibu, we are stronger, and this will allow us to invest more in existing and new homes than we could on our own, while enhancing our services by taking the best of both from each organisation.
“This is therefore an exciting step on our journey.
“I am therefore not only proud of everything we have achieved individually, but also of what I know we will achieve together.”
In August 2023, housing secretary Michael Gove wrote to Inquilab over a previous finding of severe maladministration by the Housing Ombudsman.
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