Our Service Statement

The Orchard Housing Society is a not for profit registered social landlord, which exists to provide sheltered accommodation for the older members of the Garden Suburb population (or the parents of Suburb residents) who are in housing need.

The provision of housing for the elderly was part of the overall vision of Dame Henrietta Barnett, the founder of Hampstead Garden Suburb and in 1909 the original group of flats for the elderly of the Suburb was opened, By the 1960’s the original buildings were in a poor state of repair and the design of the flats no longer met the requirements for this type of housing. A group of local residents led by Edward Parry, formed the current Orchard Housing Society in order to replace the original buildings with more up to date provision and the new buildings were opened in 1972. The money for this project was provided partly by residents of the Suburb (by way of private subscription) and largely by the London Borough of Barnet, who granted the Society a loan on a mortgage. The Borough has the right to nominate tenants for nine of the 61 flats.

We invite you to download our financial report below.

The Society is governed by a committee of management. Members of the Committee are volunteers and receive no payment except for out of pocket expenses. Three members of the committee are full time Orchard residents. Their activity is controlled by the Rules of the Society and a Code of Conduct. 

The Orchard has accommodation for 48 single people and 13 couples over two blocks, A and B. The flats are self-contained and comprise either a bed sitting room with separate kitchen and bathroom (single flats), or two rooms, kitchen and bathroom (double flats). There are two laundry rooms, one in each block, containing washing machines and tumble dryers for the use of tenants. We have three guest rooms, a small communal computer room and a meeting room with kitchen facilities for residents use.  Every flat is provided with a call system so that a manager can be summoned in an emergency, for example, in the event of illness, fire or a fall. When managers are off duty the alarm is linked to an 24 hour out-of-hours telecare service. Each of the two-storey blocks are served by a lift.

There are two managers responsible for the day-to-day running of the flats and monitoring the well being and needs of the tenants, staff are on duty from 9am – 5pm  Monday to Friday.

Sheltered housing in the Orchard is intended for people who are able to live independently, or with support provided privately or through the local authority. However, in an emergency and in cases of illness, managers will help and contact medical authorities or relatives. They will attend to minor repairs inside and outside the building and report to the Committee any major repairs considered necessary.

All tenants of the Orchard have security of tenure and are granted an assured tenancy.