Sovereign South+West, the regional housing provider with hundreds of homes in Swindon, is in detailed negotiations that could result in it taking over more than 700 more properties in the town and across Wiltshire.
Sovereign, which is based in Newbury and has an office in Swindon, plans to swap its 641 homes in Somerset with Knightstone Housing Association in return for 719 in Swindon and Wiltshire.
The two say the deal will give their residents a more locally-based and efficient service, including an improved repairs and maintenance service.
Knightstone and Sovereign are formally consulting residents affected by the potential transfer in an exercise expected to end in mid-November. Residents’ views will be a key consideration before a final decision is made, Sovereign and Knightstone said.
Sovereign managing director Heather Bowman said: “Knightstone has a strong presence in Somerset, and we are confident that the proposed transfer to Knightstone will lead to a more responsive service.
“Similarly, we can assure Knightstone residents in Swindon and Wiltshire that they will receive a quicker and more local service because we are more embedded in the community here.
“The proposed stock swap and more local service it provides will result in efficiencies for both businesses, which will mean reinvestment in services and providing more high-quality affordable homes.”
Knightstone chief executive Nick Horne said the move is part of its plan to concentrate its services across nine local authorities.
“These planned property swaps are part of a package of bold changes that will transform what we do, how we do it and where we do it," he said.
"The government changes to housing policy, rents, tenures and welfare benefits as well as the current economic climate, mean major challenges for us, our residents and partners in the years ahead.
“We’re very pleased to be progressing these negotiations with Sovereign. We’re both committed to providing an excellent service to our customers and through our local presence in each area we can assure residents from both organisations that they’ll continue to receive great service.
“Our goal is to make a real difference in our communities and invest more in supporting neighbourhoods so they are places where people continue to want to live. This first stock swap will help us achieve just that.”
