Our history & what we do

What we do

At Bradford Community Housing Trust we provide affordable, high quality homes in desirable neighbourhoods across the Bradford district. We currently manage 22,000 homes, all of which were previously owned by Bradford Council. In addition to providing quality homes we also pride ourselves in offering all our customers with reliable and effective support on all housing related issues.

Our history

Bradford Community Housing Trust (BCHT) Group was launched in February 2003 to offer affordable, high quality housing within desirable neighbourhoods where people want to live.

It followed a ballot of every tenant which saw 66% of them vote and 62% support the change in ownership and management of their homes.  As a result a stock transfer of 25,000 homes from Bradford Metropolitan District Council to BCHT took place. 

The BCHT Group was made up of the Bradford Community Housing Trust and six local Housing Trusts.

The Trusts were:

• Aire-Wharfe Community Housing Trust Ltd
• Bradford West City Community Housing Trust Ltd
• East Bradford Community Housing Trust Ltd
• North Bradford Community Housing Trust Ltd
• Shipley Community Housing Trust Ltd
• South Bradford Community Housing Trust Ltd

Each of these six local Trusts became Industrial and Provident Societies from the 1st August 2005. An Industrial and Provident Society is a legal entity for a trading business in the United Kingdom.

The Group also has a charitable subsidiary called BCHT Foundation Limited (registered on 7th February 2005) and a repairs and maintenance organisation called Bradford Building Services Ltd.

A charitable trust is one which is organised to serve private or public charitable purposes and is required to report its activities - especially financial activities - to the government. If the trust ceases to exist or otherwise becomes unable to carry out its purpose, then the trust property can be transferred to another charity with a similar purpose.

In January 2007, following a review of governance arrangements, a new group structure was created.  The six Area Trusts joined together to form a new RSL, Bradford Community Housing Limited.  Local Management Trusts were formed in each of the Trust areas to increase customer involvement in our services.  BBS, our repairs and maintenance organisation, became part of the new Group Trust, BCHT Group (2006) Limited. 

BCHT is now legally registered as Bradford Community Housing Trust Group (2006) Limited.