History

Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association Limited was formed in 1979 through the merger of four associations, which date back individually as far as 1950.

The Leeds Tenant's Housing Society Limited was formed in 1950 and was registered as a Friendly Society and affiliated to the National Federation of Housing Societies. Founder member Charles Charlesworth was determined to do something about homelessness which had risen in the immediate post war years. Mr Charlesworth had been impressed with the co-operative housing movement in Sweden and set up the Leeds Tenants' Housing Society along similar lines.

Yorkshire Cottage Housing Association Limited was founded in 1952 with the aim of providing some general family housing, but to focus primarily on providing accommodation for the elderly.

Aggrey Housing Limited was formed in 1955 and named after the Ghanaian educationist Dr J.E.K. Aggrey (1875-1927). It was one of the country’s first BME housing providers and its chief function was best summed up on its headed notepaper, “A trust providing homes to let for newcomers to Leeds”.

Aire Valley Housing Limited was founded in 1962 as a “development consortium specialising in the design, construction and management of moderately priced dwellings for lettings at fair rents based on cost”.

Today, the association has its head office in Leeds, West Yorkshire and a property portfolio spread throughout Yorkshire.

It is true to say that the forward thinking, dynamic and progressive approach of the founding associations, tackling homelessness, promoting diversity, and developing affordable homes is very much alive and embodied in Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association’s mission ‘to provide good quality homes that are well managed by people who care’.