ISHA has approximately 1600 homes in management or in the development pipeline and despite the housing recession we expect to grow to 2000 homes over the next few years.
Most of our housing is in Hackney and Islington, with growing housing development in Waltham Forest and a small estate in Camden.
We work in close co-operation with the Local Authorities and the Homes and Communities Agency and the Tenant Services Agency and other local Housing Associations, including Black and Minority Ethnic, special needs Housing Associations and co-operatives.
As leading member of the North River Alliance, ISHA is developing new housing for families and single people in Hackney, Waltham Forest and Islington and we provide housing for the Frail and Elderly in Hackney. As well as low rent affordable housing we are also developing intermediate housing schemes for key workers in London, and shared ownership ‘part-buy part rent’ housing. Details of current projects are given in the development section of the website.
We provide a locally based and efficient housing management and maintenance service. To ensure that standards are maintained, the Association regularly collects, monitors and publishes information on its performance as a social housing landlord.
In 2008 the National Housing Federation Resident Satisfaction Survey found that 82% of our residents were happy with the services we offer, placing ISHA in the top quartile of English Housing Associations, 13% above the average for our North London peer group and top of the table, 6% higher than the nearest of those colleagues HA.
This is a tremendous tribute to ISHA's hard working staff. We are not complacent however, we know that this is the acid test of whether residents are truly satisfied with ISHA as a landlord, and will work hard to get an even better result next time.
Many of our schemes enable regeneration of local areas. In recent years as well as providing housing we have built a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility for Moorfields Eye Hospital, offices for community organisations, a small supermarket, a day nursery and we have been involved in two projects to build new schools.
The Association is committed to resident participation. A wide range of activities, facilitated by our Resident Involvement Manager, is taking place across our housing estates and street properties. Click here to look at ways to get involved. Our Residents Forum works with staff to give a voice to our residents and to achieve ’continuous improvement’ to our housing services and improve resident satisfaction.
Our Operations Directorate is outlined below:
ISHA is a registered charitable Housing Association, governed by a Board with a wide variety of skills and background. The senior officers report directly to the Board and the Chief Executive is responsible to the Board for the management of the Association and the efficient performance of all its activities.
A key project for ISHA in 2008 was the Tenant Survey; this was a sample postal survey undetaken by the National Housing Federation using the standard STATUS questionnaire with some additional questions about internet use, the residents' newsletter and opportunities for involvement.
The summary findings of this survey are available on this site - click on The Resident Survey 2008 (PDF format).
The results will help us focus on the areas in which we need to improve service delivery and plan for the future. We are committed to undertaking surveys such as this at least every 3 years.
Regular feedback on resident satisfaction is also obtained through other measures. This includes the following:
Please refer to the noticeboard in your block for the timetable of the Inspection Schedule for your estate.
Some of the key areas on which we monitor our performance are:
You can review our current performance by clicking here
ISHA aims to provide high quality services to all its residents and other customers and has drafted the standards you should expect from us. Please click here to view ISHA Customer Care Standards.
We have produced a booklet (click here to download) which aims to assist residents in resolving problems with neighbours and others where their actions are detrimentally affecting their quality of life. Hard copies are also available at our office in 102 Blackstock Road.
Please click here for ISHA's policy on anti-social behaviour.
Please click here for details of our procedure and what ISHA can do when anti-social behaviour takes place.
Working in the midst of a multi-ethnic area in one of the most culturally diverse cities on earth, ISHA is committed to recognising diversity and embracing the opportunities and challenges it provides us for as a landlord, service provider and employer. Please click here to see our Equal Opportunities Statement
This concept of diversity means understanding that each individual is unique and recognising our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, or other.
As a landlord, service provider and employer we take seriously our responsibility to embrace diversity and we believe that valuing people for who they are and not what they are is not only morally right, but makes good business sense.
We recognise this by our commitment to achieving equality and diversity in the access to housing and related services, recruitment and selection procedures, training and development opportunities, the design and development of new homes and in the practices of contractors and consultants, and Board Membership. Please click here to view our Diversity Strategy.
ISHA understands that the recruitment and retention of high-quality staff makes a successful and happy organisation. We also place a high priority on good communications and development of our staff. Through the use of training plans the Association provides an ever-growing number of development opportunities including day release courses, specialised training and secondments. ISHA has also adopted family-friendly policies, which facilitate the balance of family life/work, such as flexi-time for staff where possible.
We encourage job applications from all sections of the community.
