The image features the words 'believe' in colorful, bold, rainbow-colored letters, with 'housing' in smaller, dark blue letters below.

Number of homes: ~18,171
CEO: Bill Fullen
Website: www.believehousing.co.uk
Areas of operation: County Durham, Sunderland, Gateshead, Darlington, and surrounding areas—covering over 350 square miles

About Believe Housing

Believe Housing is one of the largest social landlords in the North East, managing over 18,000 homes and serving approximately 22,000 customers. A charitable co-operative and Community Benefit Society, Believe delivers local housing services tailored to diverse needs—from city centres to rural and coastal communities. Its vision is guided by values of inclusivity and “life without barriers.”

Performance & Accountability

In December 2024 the Regulator of Social Housing reaffirmed Believe’s G1 governance and V2 viability grades. This signals strong leadership and financial capacity, though the provider must continue managing material risks effectively.

Strategic Direction

For the year ending March 2024, Believe reported turnover of £80.2 million, up from £73.9 million the year before, and controls assets worth £368 million. Its corporate plan for 2025–2028 highlights achievements including over 300,000 repairs, £92 million spent on home improvements, £11 million on energy efficiency, £6.5 million in welfare benefits secured for tenants, and more than £21 million in social value created. In 2021, Believe became the first housing association to achieve net-zero status for its business activities.

Resident Experience

Housing Ombudsman cases highlight recurring challenges with communication, repairs, rent and insurance disputes, property condition at tenancy start, and handling of boundaries or antisocial behaviour. These underline the need for consistent standards in service delivery and complaint handling.

At a glance
Homes: ~18,171
Governance / Viability: G1 / V2 (Dec 2024)
Turnover: £80 million (FY 2023–24)
Assets: £368 million
Recent Achievements: 300,000+ repairs; £92m invested in improvements; £11m on energy efficiency; £6.5m welfare benefits secured; £21m in social value; net-zero operations since 2021