Two housing associations and their 6,600 homes join PfP as merger deals complete

South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA) and Elim Housing have officially joined the Places for People (PfP) Group, in mergers which will expand investment and support for thousands of Customers across England. 

This milestone follows successful negotiations, due diligence, and Customer consultations across both organisations. The move brings together SYHA’s 5,700 homes across Yorkshire and surrounding regions and Elim Housing’s 900 homes across Bristol and Gloucestershire into the wider PfP Group, which already manages 262,000 homes across the UK (77,000 for social rent). 

From 1 December 2025, SYHA and Elim Housing officially join PfP as subsidiaries, combining PfP’s scale and financial resilience with their own deep local knowledge to deliver even better outcomes for Customers. 

The mergers strengthen the ability of all three organisations to deliver high-quality, affordable homes and specialist support services within their respective Communities.  

Greg Reed, Group CEO at Places for People, said: “We’re proud to welcome SYHA and Elim Housing into the PfP Group. Both organisations have a powerful social purpose, deep roots in their Communities, and decades of commitment to providing People with safe, secure homes. 

“Together, we can go further for our Customers and Communities. PfP’s scale gives us the confidence to invest further and faster in new and existing homes, and SYHA’s and Elim’s local insight ensures it lands where it creates the greatest impact. This is an exciting step forward, and we look forward to building Thriving Communities together.”  

Larry Gold, Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Housing Association, said: “Joining PfP marks a new chapter for SYHA and the Customers and Communities we’ve proudly supported for more than 50 years.  

“With PfP’s backing, we can accelerate improvements to our homes, build more affordable housing, and continue offering great services and support. What matters most is that our Customers see the benefits, and we’re committed to making sure this partnership delivers exactly that.” 

Paul Smith, Chief Executive of Elim Housing, said: “Elim Housing has always been ambitious for our Customers and Communities. Becoming part of PfP gives us the stability, scale, and shared values needed to achieve those ambitions in a challenging environment.  

“This partnership strengthens our ability to modernise homes, grow our specialist services, and continue delivering meaningful support to the people who rely on us. We are excited about the opportunities ahead.” 

Both organisations will also now begin the process of transitioning fully into the PfP Group over the course of the next year, eventually operating under the same name.