The 32,000-home housing association’s turnover increases, but its surplus falls due to interest costs

Citizen Housing has completed 703 new homes in the 2023/24 financial year, which it says is the largest development programme that it has achieved in a single year. 

Kevin-Rodgers

Source: Citizen Housing

Kevin Rodgers, chief executive of Citizen Housing

This figure represents an increase from the 630 homes completed in the previous year.

Of the 703 homes, 653 were for rent and shared ownership, and 50 were for outright sale.

Citizen’s financial statement for the year ending 31 March 2024 said it has increased its investment in the development of new homes from £95.8m in 2022/23 to £108m this year.

>> See also: Citizen Housing’s £120m regeneration of 1960s Coventry estate to start in October

>> See also: Thirteen Group ploughs additional £57m into developing new homes and increases surplus

This was still slightly less than the housing association’s target to spend £130.6m on new development during the year due to “slippage in the spend profile of our affordable development programme”.

However, the report noted that 32,000-home Citizen has a smaller development programme compared to some of its peer comparator organisations. 

The West Midlands-based housing association reported an increase in turnover, which rose from £183.5m in 2022/23 to £192.6m at 31 March 2024.

Turnover from social housing lettings increased by £14.9m, while first tranche shared ownership dipped slightly, by £1m.

Income from build-for-sale activities decreased by £5.7m.

Despite the increase in turnover, the social landlord reported a decrease in its surplus, operating surplus and total comprehensive income for the year.

Citizen’s surplus dropped from £23.1m in 2022/23 to £19.1m in the 2023/24 financial year. The surplus figure was hit by a £3.1m increase in financing costs. 

Its operating surplus fell slightly, by £1.1m, to £48.3m. The association reported a total comprehensive income for the year of £16m, compared to £78.1m in the previous year.

Citizen’s operating costs went up by £7.5m, to £147.2m. Its operating margin has also decreased from 24.5% to 23.6%.

During the year, Citizen spent £42.6m on major repairs and £25.7m on decarbonisation works.

Citizen in its current form was created in 2019, when WM Housing Group amalgamated its associations -  Family Housing Association, Optima Community Association, West Mercia Homes, Whitefriars Housing and WM Housing - into one business and rebranded.

Housing association financial statements 2023/24

Notting Hill Genesis confirms £90m deficit in overdue financial accounts The 67,000-home housing association’s accounts were late as it was reviewing one-off costs, most of which related to building safety

Anchor Hanover increases turnover by 17% bolstered by acquisitions Provider aiming for 70% of new development to be for social housing tenures

‘Challenging year’ for Torus as surplus drops 45% The housing association’s surplus has been hit by high inflation and increased investment in its existing homes

Acquisitions boost turnover at Housing 21 Extra care and retirement living provider increases income 9% as it eyes expansion

Thirteen Group ploughs additional £57m into developing new homes and increases surplus The 36,000-home housing association invested almost £250m in new and existing homes over the year

Riverside records deficit for second consecutive year but increases new build Chair says deficit dude to combined impact of difficult operating environment and anticipated challenges from One Housing merger

EMH Group latest to undershoot development target East midlands provider increases shared ownership and sales income

Yorkshire Housing’s turnover and surplus fall as market sale income plummets Open market sales revenue drops from £15.2m to £1.1m

Great Places builds less than 70% of targeted affordable homes Housing association planned to build 786 in 2023/24

Stonewater increases development 23% as it boosts spend on new build Surplus doubles due to one-off merger gain but repair costs rise

Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing increases development spend by 40% Accounts also confirm £80m deficit after building safety costs and write-downs

A2 Dominion’s deficit increases as it aims to restore regulatory compliance Landlord starts work on just nine homes as it focuses on improving existing stock

L&Q trebles surplus as operating costs fall Housing association spends £112m on capital works as it shifts expenditure towards existing homes

Orbit’s development drops by 30% as it ramps up spend on existing homes  Midlands housing association’s surplus falls by 39%

Turnover and surplus up at Onward Homes North-west landlord posts an 11% increase in its annual turnover

Peabody turnover down 11% due to reduced sales and site delays Landlords scales back development and invests more in improving existing stock as it shifts to neighbourhood model 

Guinness undershoots development target by nearly half Landlord says resource pressures and contractor administrations hit annual development figures

Housing delivery up 31% at Places for People Repair and maintenance spend exceeds planned budget

Flagship boosts surplus by 16% despite fall in open market sales and higher salaries East of England provider built 744 homes in the 2023/24

Aster’s surplus hit by higher interest costs and writedowns The housing association’s pre-tax profit falls 14%  due to a combination of an increase in costs caused by inflation and an ‘all-time high’ investment in its homes

Abri invests ‘record’ £100m in existing homes but sees 19% dip in annual completions The 50,000-home housing association reports  ‘exceptional’ surplus of £518m due to merger with Silva Homes.

Hyde Group misses build target by nearly half as it’s hit by £39m in write-downs 44,000-home association reports 78% drop in surplus as it is hit by contractor insolvencies on two schemes

Home Group increases development 17% Home Group handed over 1,284 homes last year, according to its financial statement for the year to 31 March 2024.

Moat reports squeezed margins and lower surplus Moat Homes has reported a drop in surplus and turnover, as its social housing lettings margin fell sharply.

Midland Heart increases development as it eyes 4,000-home target 35,000-home association increases investment in new build and improving existing stock

LiveWest undershoots affordable homes target due to delayed starts on site South west-based association built fewer affordable homes in 2023/24 than its target due to “site specific” issues.

Paradigm exceeds development target Buckinghamshire-based housing association says new build “central part” of mission as it increases surplus and turnover

Karbon increases development but sees margins squeezed due to hike in repairs costs Newcastle-based landlord builds 644 homes in 2023/24

BPHA boosts turnover but reports deficit due to one-off refinancing costs Bedfordshire landlord increases completions by 20%

Vivid increases development to more than 1,500 homes a year Housing association boosts development by 10% in face of surplus squeeze

Southern stops committing to new developments as surplus falls 80,000-home housing association ramps up spend on existing homes

Surplus down but turnover rises in SNG’s first post-merger financial accounts The merged organisation, which is aiming to develop 25,000 new homes over the next decade, says its balance sheet is ‘robust, diversified and resilient’

Platform Housing’s surplus falls due to pension scheme exits costing £18m The Midlands-based housing association also cited cost pressures from investment in homes, customer services, and high inflation

Bromford Housing reports increase in turnover, but higher operating costs Housing association cites  higher repair volumes

Clarion reports drop in turnover and surplus as it takes ‘cautious’ approach to development Housing association giant increases spend on existing stock from £393m to £418m

Sanctuary increases turnover despite 35% drop in sales income  Giant housing association misses development target

Turnover and surplus up at Onward Homes North-west housing association increases shared ownership sales income

L&Q trebles surplus as operating costs fall The 109,000-home housing association has spent £112m on capital works as it shifts expenditure towards existing homes

Jigsaw Homes delivers ‘record’ 929 new homes and increases surplus The housing association’s surplus increased by £8.5m during the year

Wheatley boss warns build pipeline depends on Scottish government grant funding 94,000-home group reports fall in annual development and warns government budget cuts will affect build rates