MANNINGHAM Housing Association has again achieved the highest standard of Customer Service Excellence and been officially reaccredited for its work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

In two glowing reports from the Centre for Assessment, MHA - which manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley - was described as “excellent” and “an exceptional organisation”.

The verdict on retaining the Standard for Valuing People through Diversity and Inclusion said: “The entire MHA team is focused on exceeding customers’ expectations, delivering excellent customer service by providing more homes, looking after the existing homes, investing in the community, developing partnerships and, as the only BME landlord in Bradford, MHA has the leverage and standing within the city to become a lead voice for BME communities.”

It comes after MHA was the first housing association in the country to receive both accolades in 2019.

The report continued: “MHA is clearly a values driven organisation and people are strongly committed to the work of the association. Diversity and inclusion are deeply embedded in the DNA of the organisation, the association was founded some 35 years ago and it is clear that those principles have not only endured over the decades and the sense of inclusion has increased as the organisation reaches out to wider communities.”

In a separate document confirming MHA had also kept its Customer Service Excellence accreditation, the official assessor praised the efforts staff had made to expand services to tenants and the wider community during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Ulfat Hussain, MHA assistant chief executive, said: “The assessor’s conclusions are a testament to all at Manningham Housing Association who have outperformed even my highest expectations since the pandemic took hold.

“We were never content with seeking to ride out that period of time and hope that COVID would go away. Instead, we endeavoured to do everything we could to support our tenants and the wider communities, as well as each other."

"Every one of the team at every level should feel mightily proud of themselves.”

Barrington Billings, MHA chairman, said: “It was a major milestone when MHA became the first housing association in England to achieve the BS76005 Standard for Valuing People through Diversity and Inclusion.

“Retaining this and the Customer Service Excellence accreditation confirms the total commitment everyone in the association has to the people we serve and the ambitions we hold for the neighbourhoods they live in.

“On behalf of my board colleagues, I pay tribute to all the staff for their achievements and look forward to many more.”