1.2 What effect do you think this has on the staff? New Islington and Hackney Housing Association is a registered social landlord and a registered charity that owns and manages 6,500 properties in London and Essex in the UK. Employing around 650 people with a turnover of around £42 million it is one of a number of quasi government bodies that provide housing and associated services in areas of significant social deprivation and social exclusion. Fifty per cent of its customers are from black and minority ethnic groups, over 20 per cent have English as a second language and nearly 90 per cent are in receipt of some form of government benefit.

Many of these people are unemployed and nearly 50 per cent have no qualifications.

These customers have little or no choice.

There is a serious undersupply of housing accommodation in London so the alternatives for these customers include the very expensive private rented sector, short-term hostel accommodation or living rough on the streets