Our Housing team are delighted, following a formal tender procurement process managed by specialist legal consultancy Kennedy Cater, to have been appointed to three lots under the new legal services framework for The Riverside Group:
  • Property and Development;
  • Non-property including Governance, Commercial and Employment;
  • Corporate Finance and Banking.

Established nearly 90 years ago, The Riverside Group has grown to become a major provider of affordable housing, care and support services in England and Scotland with over 52,000 homes in management.  It operates across over 160 local authorities, and its vision is to transform lives and revitalise neighbourhoods, which we fully support.

Commenting on the appointment, Gemma Bell (Client Care Partner) said: “We’re pleased to have been re-appointed to the legal framework for Riverside.  The group has ambitions to become a major national housebuilder building up to 20,000 new homes over 10 years while supporting customers and investing in neighbourhoods. We feel this is congruous with our purpose to ‘improve lives, communities and society’ and we look forward to continuing to provide Riverside with pragmatic and innovative legal support in furthering its strategic plans.”

The term of The Riverside Group’s legal framework agreement is for three years with an option to extend for up to 12 months. 

Latest news, webinars and podcasts

Right to shared ownership – help or hinder?
Right to shared ownership – help or hinder?

The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).

End of possession stay - new working group guidance
End of possession stay - new working group guidance

Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.

The Building Safety Bill: Duty holders
The Building Safety Bill: Duty holders

One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals

Charities fortnightly round-up 20
Charities fortnightly round-up 20

A recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK means new measures are being put in place in an effort to reduce the risk of a second wave. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, it is important to remain focused on the sector’s road to recovery.

Can you see the future yet?
Can you see the future yet?

Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”

PODCAST: Possession update
PODCAST: Possession update

Following our recent e-briefing on Possession Notices, Helen Tucker and Emilie Pownall from our housing litigation team discuss the impact of the changes on social landlords.

Possession Notices – all change once more!
Possession Notices – all change once more!

Not only has the possession stay been extended until 20 September, the notice periods to be given to tenants has been extended in certain circumstances with some important exceptions.