The Guinness Partnership logo with a large green G and the words "the Guinness partnership" in green and gray text.

Number of homes: Over 65,000
CEO: Catriona Simons
Website: www.guinnesspartnership.com
Areas of operation: 125 local authority areas across England

About

The Guinness Partnership is one of the largest housing associations in England, managing more than 65,000 homes and providing housing and care services to around 140,000 people. It offers affordable rent, shared ownership, and outright sale properties, positioning itself as a national provider addressing a wide range of housing needs. Profits from market sale are reinvested into affordable housing delivery.

Performance & Accountability

The Guinness Partnership is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing (code 4729). In October 2022, it was rated G1 for governance and V2 for viability following a Stability Check. This indicates that while governance arrangements meet regulatory standards, the organisation faces greater financial pressures and is more exposed to risk than those graded V1. The regulator confirmed the provider remains financially sustainable.

Strategic Direction

The organisation’s strategy is centred on continuing to deliver affordable homes across England while balancing investment in existing stock and expanding housing supply. Development is supported through cross-subsidy, with profits from outright sales reinvested into new affordable housing. Guinness also delivers care and support services nationally, aiming to support residents to live independently.

Resident Experience

Guinness promotes long-term security of tenure and affordability, but like many large providers, residents have raised issues around repairs, communication, and complaints handling. Themes in Ombudsman cases have included delays to maintenance and dissatisfaction with complaint resolution. These highlight the challenges of scale for a national provider managing diverse housing and service needs.

At a glance

  • Homes: 65,000+ across England

  • Governance/Viability: G1/V2 – strong governance, financial pressures present

  • Focus: Affordable rent, shared ownership, outright sales, care and support services

  • Key identity points: One of the largest providers in England, national scope, reinvests profits from market sales into affordable homes