Property group’s £30 million facility will create ‘safe haven’ for domestic abuse victims

A Manchester based property group has acquired a block of over 40 flats to rehouse victims of domestic abuse after securing a £30 million loan facility from Cheadle-based Together.

Ardwick-based HS Property Group (HSPG) has agreed the loan facility with Together for the group to buy, refurbish and lease supported housing throughout the UK. HSPG, which has invested over £100 million in the social housing sector, focus on working with the social housing sector. They work closely with Manchester City Council and manage over 200 units of temporary accommodation, housing homeless families.

The first project to be funded by the Cheadle-based lender will be Watts Moses House in Sunderland (pictured), a block of 43 self-contained flats which will act as a refuge for abuse victims. The freehold building has 41 one-bedroom flats, a three-bedroom apartment and a studio, while the ground floor provides communal space and a laundry room.

HSPG’s CEO Guy Horne said:

Domestic violence is sadly an issue throughout the country, and, therefore investing in areas where we can achieve the most social good is the best way to deal with this growing problem.”

Sunderland City Council had expressed a genuine need to provide quality accommodation and support for abuse victims in the area – a factor which proved crucial in the group’s decision to invest the city, revealed Mr Horne, adding:

Watts Moses House is an exciting step for our company. We pride ourselves on consistently making socially driven business decisions, and this is one of them. The property’s location in Sunderland’s city centre will provide a refuge for victims of domestic violence, in an area which boasts many amenities”.

Mr Horne described Together, which has its headquarters in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, as the property group’s “ideal partner”, with the latest funding marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship between the two companies. He concluded:

This is just the first of many projects we will be embarking upon with Together’s backing and the £30m facility will increase our ability to provide much needed supported housing across the country. The project will run smoothly thanks to them.”

Robert Goodall, Head of Specialist Lending at Together said the partnership with HSPG and their purchase of Watts Moses House was important, particularly following a surge in domestic violence cases during lockdown, with two-thirds of women in abusive relationships suffering more violence from their partners during the pandemic. Mr Goodall said:

We are confidently backing HSPG with this new facility to help those – individuals and families – whose lives have been devastated by domestic violence. With aligned business and ethical focuses, we are excited about driving the facility forward and moving onto the next supported housing acquisition with HSPG.”