WWHA was founded in 1965 to develop low cost rented and co-ownership accommodation in Cardiff and South Wales.

Since then the Association has enjoyed steady and sustained growth, developing and acquiring a wide range of properties across Wales as well as winning a number of UK-wide and Wales-based awards.

Currently we operate in 14 local authority areas in Wales where we provide good quality, affordable homes to more than 17,000 people, and we're delighted to say that we've been rated as the top performing housing association in Wales in the 2011 Sunday Times Best Companies Public/Third Sector List.

                       

The Association’s first scheme was developed in the mid 1960s and provided 49 flats at Hillside Court, Penylan in Cardiff. 

During the 1970s WWHA developed around 1500 homes throughout Wales and the west of England and in 1974 the Association was registered with the Housing Corporation under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965.

During the 1980s we continued to build homes and were one of the first housing associations to build properties using both grant funding and private finance. During the 1980s two smaller Welsh associations in financial difficulty were absorbed into WWHA.

During the 1990’s we developed several schemes, provided student accommodation in North Wales and became a leader in the field of resident participation. As part of a stock rationalisation exercise in 1990 we transferred 336 units of stock from Hanover Housing Association in the west of England, transferred the whole of our English stock to Orbit and Knightstone Housing Associations, and accepted Corlan and Corlan Retirement Housing Associations as a subsidiary of WWHA, taking our stock to around 5,500 properties.

In 1999 our 24 hour Customer Service Centre was opened in Cardiff, the first Residents’ Conference was held, and the Association’s total stock stood at just under 9,000 properties. 

The largest housing association in Wales by 2002,  WWHA was managing approximately 9,000 properties and providing homes for more than 25,000 people. We won two UK Housing Awards for developing the first joint Tenant Compact in Wales, and the regeneration of Bettws in South Wales. We were also shortlisted for two further awards for our work in Merthyr Vale and the development of staff at WWHA.

In 2003 the Association restructured to combine the two Regions into one Operations Department.  As part of this restructure the area offices were closed, with the exception of Head Office and Flint, and staff were relocated into the areas to be closer to customers.

In 2005 the Association achieved charitable status, set up a specialist Anti Social Behaviour Unit and expanded our involvement with communities.

In 2006 David Taylor retired after 25 years as Chief Executive and was succeeded by Anne Hinchey, who was previously Operations Director at the Association.

In 2007 the Association achieved the accolade of Charter Mark for customer service excellence.  We also achieved compliance with the Telecare Services Association (TSA) Code of Practice, becoming the first Housing Association in Wales and only the second Control Room in Wales to achieve this. The TSA Code encourages the provision of good quality customer service by officially recognising service providers who meet its demanding criteria.

We also became the first Housing Association in Wales to receive Age Positive Employer Champion status. This accolade, awarded by the Department of Works and Pensions, is given to organisations who are committed to tackling age discrimination in the workplace.

In 2008 the Association achieved the Code of Practice for Sheltered Housing with the Centre for Sheltered Housing Studies , this is an exacting standard which recognises the quality of our retirement housing services.

In the same year we became a Stonewall Diversity Champion .   
                             
     
In 2009 the Association achieved Investors in People status including the Leadership & Management standard. In 2010 we achieved the new updated 2009 TSA Code of Practice for monitoring.

 
And in 2011 we were placed 14th in the 2011 Sunday Times Best Companies Public / Third Sector List, making us the highest rated housing association in Wales. Graded as being a two star organisation we are recognised as being as 'outstanding.'