This document discusses the plans of Merthyr Valleys Homes (MVH) in Wales to become the first tenant and employee mutual housing organization in Wales. MVH has a history of tenants, staff, and the board working together and wants to formalize this relationship and give power back by becoming a mutual. The process of becoming a mutual has involved establishing a commission, inviting tenants and employees to participate, getting advice from other mutual organizations, and holding votes and meetings to approve new rules and structures. The goal is for MVH to be democratically controlled by 8 tenants, 8 employees, 2 local councilors, and 1 independent member, along with an 8-person non-executive board.

1. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Michael Owen
Chief Executive
Merthyr Valleys Homes

2. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
• Birmingham Co-operative
Housing Services
• Bottom up mutual at Merthyr
Valleys Homes
• Top down mutual at Taf Fechan
Co-operative

3. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Director of BCHS - 1987
• Fully mutual coops –
20/20 New Decade Triangle
Victoria Paddock
• TMOs - Wolverhampton
Walsall
• Supporting involvement
across the Midlands

4. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
That Mrs. Thatcher!
• Section 16 Grants
• Development allowances for
Co-ops
• 100% SHG
• Fair Rents & 100%
benefit

5. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Building Our Mutual
• MVH is traditional LSVT
• 4300 Homes
• History of tenants, Board
and staff working together
• Planning to spend £800m
in Merthyr in next 30 years

6. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Building Our Mutual
• Planning to be the first
tenant and employee
mutual in Wales
• Long history of
collectivism
• A chance to give
power back

7. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Building Our Mutual
• Commission
established with
independent Chair
• Invited tenants
• Employee election
• Trade Union invited
• Board invited

8. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Building Our Mutual
• Advice from Mutuo
• Visits to Rochdale
• Each major issue
voted on
• Rules approved by
Board in June
• SGM meeting in
Nov

9. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786

10. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Building Our Mutual
• Democratic Body
• 8 Tenants
• 8 Employees
• 2 Councillors
• 1 Independent
• Board of 8 Non
Executive
Directors

11. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Michael Owen
Chief Executive
Valleys Homes

12. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Why a housing co-op?
• No scope/demand to
social rent as flats
• No opportunity for
private sale
• We needed a focus for
inward investment
into local area

13. MVH MTCBC
JVC
Taf Fechan
Co-op
Provides
properties
and
guarantees
loan
Provides
loan facility
from PLWB
Pays leasehold
charge to the
JVC
Pays the annual
return to MTCBC
against cost of
borrowing

14. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
• Part of the Council’s
Vibrant Communities
Programme and on
lending by the Council
• External
improvements now
complete
• Recruitment of new co-
operators started.
Finally we have lift off

15. e: buildingourmutual@mvhomes.org.uk
t: 0800 085 7843 / 01685 727786
Michael Owen
Chief Executive
Merthyr Valleys Homes