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Credit ratings

External credit ratings provide a useful insight into the financial robustness of an organisation.

Latest updates

October 2024: Moody’s Credit Opinion

“The credit profile of Great Places Housing Group (Great Places, A3 stable) reflects its strong balance sheet, its solid operating margin, an expected sharp increase in capital expenditure and its volatile exposure to market sales. Great Places’ credit profile also benefits from our assessment that there is a strong likelihood that the government of the United Kingdom (UK, Aa3 stable) would act in a timely manner to prevent a default.”

April 2024: Moody’s periodic review – Great Places Housing Group’s ratings, including its A3 issuer and long-term debt ratings with a stable outlook are unchanged.

October 2023: Moody’s improves the outlook on Great Places’ A3 rating from “negative” to “stable”

Following the change of the UK sovereign from a negative outlook to stable outlook, Moody’s have updated the credit opinions of 61 UK institutions including Great Places. Previously Moody’s had cut the outlook for UK housing associations from stable to negative in November 2022, which has now been reversed.

October 2023: Moody’s rating affirmed at A3 with negative outlook, baa2

“The credit profile of Great Places Housing Group (Great Places, A3 negative) reflects its strong balance sheet, its solid operating margin – although weakened, the sharp increase in capital expenditure and its volatile exposure to market sales. Great Places’ credit profile also benefits from our assessment that there is a strong likelihood that the government of the United Kingdom (UK, Aa3 negative) would intervene in the event that Great Places faces acute liquidity stress.”

Baseline Credit Assessment baa2

Credit strengths

  • Strong balance sheet with relatively low gearing
  • Solid financial performance, although recently weakened
  • Supportive institutional framework

Credit challenges

  • Increasing capital expenditure driving lower liquidity coverage
  • High exposure to market sales and weakening cash flow volatility interest cover

Documents

  • January 2023: Moody’s has taken rating actions on 13 UK housing associations
    The negative outlook across the sector reflects the high exposure to weaker economic and financial conditions in the UK, including prolonged high inflation, capped social rent increases, a housing market downturn and higher interest rates. Moodys reported that Great Places and others with the same rating “retain strong balance sheets, with gearing in line with or below peers. All continue to display solid liquidity coverage, with liquidity policies in line with the sector, typically covering more than 24 months of net cash needs.”

 

October 2024: Fitch Downgrades Great Places Housing Group to ‘A’; Outlook Stable

Mike Gerrard, Chief Financial Officer at Great Places, said:

“This change to our Fitch rating is not unexpected given recent changes awarded to similar housing associations and the challenging external economic environment.  We retained our A3 rating with Moody’s recently and remain a financially strong organisation.

“Every housing association is investing more in their customers’ homes and we are also investing significantly in making our homes more energy efficient. We strongly believe it is the right thing to do for our customers and for our business.

“We also continue to be a significant developer of affordable homes in our communities to play our part in tackling the housing crisis.

“Our liquidity position remains strong, as reflected in the Fitch rating statement.”

 


Moody’s Ratings Archived


Fitch ratings

Latest documents

Fitch Ratings archived

Homes for the North Stonewall Diversity Champion Disability Confident Employer