Logo with the word 'anchor' and a colorful abstract design of leaves, lines, and circular shapes.

Number of homes/sites: ~54,000 across ~1,700 sites
CEO: Sarah Jones
Website: www.anchor.org.uk
Areas of operation: England-wide (older people’s housing and care)

About Anchor Hanover Group

Formed in 2018 following the merger of Anchor Trust and Hanover Housing Association, Anchor Hanover Group is England’s largest not-for-profit provider of specialist housing and care for older people. It offers a broad range of tenures, including affordable rented specialist housing, extra-care units, spacious leasehold apartments, accessible bungalows, retirement villages, and more than 100 residential care homes—from respite to dementia care.

Performance & Accountability

In a June 2025 regulatory judgement, the Regulator of Social Housing downgraded Anchor’s governance grading from G1 to G3, citing serious regulatory concerns around risk management, health and safety compliance, and data integrity. Its viability remains at V1, indicating strong financial resilience. Additionally, Anchor received a C3 consumer grading, reflecting systemic shortcomings in delivering basic safety and tenant engagement standards. The group has initiated a comprehensive improvement plan aimed at restoring governance and safety confidence.

Strategic Direction

For the year ending March 2024, Anchor reported a strong underlying turnover of around £555 million. It achieved practical completion of 573 new homes and commenced an additional 419. The group also updated stock condition data across 80% of its portfolio to guide future investment and regeneration. Anchor’s ongoing business plan focuses on delivering at least 500 quality homes annually for later life, alongside care home acquisitions and improving governance and safety infrastructure.

Resident Experience & Ombudsman Findings

Reviewing Housing Ombudsman outcomes from April 2023 to March 2024 reveals notable challenges:

  • Complaints handling: 86% of cases involved maladministration

  • Property condition issues: 88% involved maladministration

  • Service failures in responsive repairs, leaks/damp, and general maintenance were prevalent
    These outcomes indicate systemic failures in fulfilling tenant expectations around repairs, complaint response, and property condition.

At a glance

  • Homes/sites: ~54,000 across ~1,700 sites

  • Governance / Viability / Consumer: G3 / V1 / C3 (2025)

  • Turnover: ~£555 million (FY 2023–24)

  • New Homes Delivered: 573 completed, 419 started (2023–24)

  • Key Priorities: Deliver 500+ quality later-life homes annually, improve health and safety compliance, restore governance transparency, and reduce Ombudsman and repair failures