Octavia Hill was a pioneering social reformer in Victorian London who established some of the first social housing developments. 170 years after her birth, her hands-on approach to housing management continues to influence the field. Hill directly managed thousands of properties, employing a blend of philanthropic and business practices. She expected tenants to meet behavioral standards in exchange for high quality housing, while also generating a 5% return for her investors. Though controversial in some of her views, Hill established an early model of social housing that remains influential to this day.