Radcliffe Housing Society was founded 60 years ago. In 1965, Marion and Norman Miller, and Beryl Hunt, met in South Croydon to discuss setting up a housing society to provide affordable homes in the Croydon and Bromley areas. Later they were joined by Ian Patt.
Ian Patt was then our Chairman of the Board, with Mrs Miller eventually taking this position.
The first schemes developed were intended to be ‘low-cost rent’ housing and followed with ‘co-ownership’ housing, most of which was subsequently bought out by the tenants. In 1974, the association was registered by the Housing Corporation as a ‘fair rent’ society providing general needs family housing. In 1976, we acquired sites for two large developments producing 76 two-bedroom flats built and let on a fair rent basis. Throughout the 1980s, 6 further developments completed providing 150 more houses and flats.
Radcliffe Housing Society was originally based in Locks Yard, Sevenoaks, in 1980 and moved to our current offices at Homefield Road, in 1994.
We were awarded Charitable status in 1998.
RHS resumed its development programme in 2002-2004, with new developments in Bromley, Tandridge and Tunbridge Wells saw the stock increase by 72 units, with the Society diversifying into market rented housing. We also joined into the South London Dev partnership and entered into a development agreement with Wandle Housing Association.
From our small beginnings, the Society continued to expand with Gray Close completed in 2003, with further developments completed the following year at Andrew and Cameron House, Tunbridge Wells.
Mr & Mrs Miller
Our scheme in Miller Close, Bromley officially opened in 2004 and was named after our founding members. There are many other developments named after our founding members.
- Miller close – named after the Millers
- Jay Gardens – named after the Millers grandson
- Oliver & Victoria – were also named after their grandchildren
- Andrew & Cameron were the names of our previous Chief Exec’s children
- Sabina Court – named after Mrs Miller’s sister
We continued to expand over the years including the acquisition of St Vincents Housing Association in 2016, which provided the foundation of our portfolio expanding into Lambeth, and Hastings in East Sussex.
We now manage 278 rented homes plus 59 leaseholders across the eight boroughs of Tandridge, Tunbridge Wells, Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark, Hastings and Sevenoaks.
We also provide Independent Living services at two schemes in Bromley and one in Hastings, totalling 73 units. Overall, we manage 418 properties and over 1,000 people occupy our homes.
In 2023, we completed a brand new development for six affordable rent homes on our existing land at Howard Road, Penge, London. We continue to look for opportunities for further growth and partnerships.
In 2025, join Radcliffe Housing Society in celebrating its 60th Birthday!
