NOTTING HILL GENESIS
NHG ’ s Rajiv Peter shares how bespoke tech aids the role of social landlords , creating a responsive foundation devoted to quality & residents ’ happiness
If you look back over the past decade , a number of transformative moments are dotted along the world ’ s collective timeline . From rapid technological innovation and the rise of social media to the widespread digitisation of industries , life nowadays is markedly different to that of just ten years earlier .
In the UK , this period is marked by change . A global recession in 2008 paved way for a prolonged period of austerity and had a domino effect on politics ; the consequent 2016 Brexit referendum led to the UK ’ s eventual EU exit in 2020 ; the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy unfolded in front of our eyes , laying bare safety concerns for the most vulnerable in social housing ; and life changed dramatically in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic , the economic , social and political fallout of which are still ongoing today . All in all , it ’ s been a pretty tumultuous decade or so .
Lucky , then , that as a devastating cost-of-living crisis looms , there are some good eggs looking out for those most in need : Notting Hill Genesis ( NHG ). One of the largest housing associations in London and the south east , it provides housing “ right across the spectrum ” of need , with a core mission to “ build and maintain quality affordable homes , creating diverse and thriving communities ”.
“ The majority of our main function , in terms of volume , is on the social housing side ,” establishes Rajiv Peter , the housing association group ’ s Chief Information Officer ( CIO ). “ That ' s where people may pay a discounted rent to us for a good home , where they previously might not have had that opportunity .”
“ We have a whole range of products . Some of them help you get into the housing market , so if you couldn ' t afford to purchase a home , you could instead buy part of the house and rent the rest . Then when you can afford it , more and more of that equity can be bought – or you could sell it and use your equity increase to buy somewhere else . That helps people get onto the housing ladder .” technologymagazine . com 133