Colorful logo with a stylized 'C' above the word 'catalyst' in bold black letters.

Number of homes: ~34,000 (within wider Peabody Group)
CEO: Ian McDermott (Peabody Group)
Website: www.peabody.org.uk
Areas of operation: London and the Home Counties

About Catalyst

Catalyst was one of the UK’s leading housing associations, with more than 34,000 homes across London and the Home Counties. On 1 April 2022, Catalyst became a subsidiary of the Peabody Group, now one of the largest providers in the country. While Catalyst retained its identity in some areas, strategic decisions and regulatory oversight now fall under Peabody.

Catalyst positioned itself as committed to building more than homes—focusing on communities, affordable housing solutions, and social purpose. The group emphasised being a high-performance organisation, a strong employer, and a socially minded business.

Performance & Accountability

Following the merger, the Regulator of Social Housing issued an interim judgement in April 2022, rating Peabody (and by extension Catalyst) as G1 for governance and V2 for viability. The regrade reflected financial pressures during a period of large-scale development and integration. Catalyst’s assets and liabilities are now reported under Peabody Trust.

Strategic Direction

Catalyst continues to operate within the Peabody Group structure, which has a long-term strategy of delivering thousands of new homes annually, investing in safety and sustainability, and modernising resident services. Catalyst’s legacy focus—providing affordable homes and building communities in London and the Home Counties—remains central to its operations within Peabody.

Resident Experience

Housing Ombudsman cases relating to Catalyst highlight recurring issues with repairs (damp, mould, leaks, cold homes, and external works), tenancy transfers, arrears handling, and complaint responses. These reflect wider concerns across merged providers about consistency in service delivery and resident trust.

At a glance

  • Homes: ~34,000 (Catalyst within Peabody Group)

  • Governance / Viability: G1 / V2 (Apr 2022, interim judgement)

  • Parent: Peabody Group

  • Focus: Affordable housing, shared ownership, community regeneration