Producing more homes resurrecting empty properties

Our Story

Our History

Cromwood was set up by two entrepreneurs in 2002 who wanted to be the catalyst to changing the social housing crisis in London.

Since then, we have been providing local authorities with properties to meet their varying housing demands, and provided landlords with a hassle-free solution to renting their property.

We are a mission-led business. This means that we seek to make a profit by creating social impact using our business models.

Our Structure

Cromwood is a group of companies which includes both Cromwood Limited and Cromwood Housing Limited.

Cromwood Limited is our mission-led housing management company, working with central and local government, and with landlords, to provide vital housing for people who are homeless or seeking asylum.

Cromwood Housing Limited is our Registered Provider (RP) of social housing, overseen by a separate board of directors and regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing.

Our Vision

“Being able to provide a place someone can call Home; where they can Rest, receive Support and plan for their Future”

Our Values

“Serve the needs of the community through housing”

“Procure high-quality properties that are ready-to-let”

“Save public money through our service delivery”

Our Mission

To provide vital housing services to save the lives of people who are homeless, sleeping rough, seeking asylum and fleeing domestic abuse.

Deliver social impact through the creation of innovative housing solutions, backed by investors and partners who care.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is to remain one of the leading providers of social housing to the local authorities in London and Greater Manchester.

“Provide immediate housing for the most vulnerable, today”

Our Team

Members of our senior team come from a myriad of business disciplines; however, they all have one thing in common – they are passionate about housing!

Moses Hirschler

Chief Executive Officer

Charged with moving the company forward with his leadership and vision, ensuring the company delivers results in line with its goals and aspirations.

Moses set up Cromwood over 20 years ago and has considerable experience of managing properties both in terms of development, management, and maintenance. He is always exploring opportunities to work with local authorities, central government as well as other organisations to bring about affordable or social housing.

Moses Lorincz

Chief Financial Officer

Charged with looking after the overall financial operation of the company including financial assessments of current operations and future acquisitions.

Mr Lorincz (as we like to call him), like Moses Hirschler has considerable experience and expertise in property development and management, whilst Moses Hirschler concentrated on developing the company and its operations, Moses Lorincz concentrated on creating the company structure and financial standing so that Cromwood can flourish and prosper.

Mendy Stern

Chief Operating Officer

Charged with developing and managing, the operational structure of Cromwood since the early years, including procurement, repairs, and maintenance. He has overseen the management of all contractual relationships with stakeholders including landlords and local authorities since Cromwood’s inception.

Mendy has brought his wealth of experience to Cromwood and ensured that we are at the forefront when it comes to delivering social housing accommodation.

Kevin Murphy

Strategic Director

Recently joined the Cromwood Group after a successful career spanning nearly 3 decades with a London Borough as Head of Housing and Environmental Health. Kevin has managed delivery of many government contracts, including with the GLA, focused on the acquisition and delivery of social housing for homeless, rough sleepers and temporary accommodation.

Cromwood Housing Board

Nigel Davies

Chair and Non-executive Director

Nigel recently retired from a career in local government spanning more than 40 years. He worked for a number of councils in the capital in a variety of key roles and spent the majority of his career at the London Borough of Bromley where prior to retirement he was executive director of environment and community services.

Nigel brings a wealth of experience around housing provision and good governance as well as a long-held commitment to helping to tackle homelessness.

Glenn Arradon

Vice Chair and Non-executive Director

Glenn is an expert in helping organisations to deliver social impact via investment. He is currently investment director at Big Issue Invest where he has overseen millions of pounds worth of investment into social enterprises. He has also taken a leading role in the organisation’s London Housing Fund, which is investing £10m in affordable housing.

Samuel Scharf

Non-executive Director

Samuel has built a reputation as a strategic leader and change facilitator over many years working in housing, social investment, local government and the wider public sector.

He is currently director of housing and customer services at C&C Housing Trust where he leads a team of 100+ responsible for housing management and the regeneration and development of specialist homes in London and the South West.

Tim West

Non-executive Director

Tim is a communications specialist and he advises a wide variety of organisations across business and social sectors. He began his career as a journalist, including stints writing about social housing, before moving into media and PR consultancy. Tim has long had an interest in social enterprise and is founding editor and CEO of Pioneers Post, a magazine targeted at social entrepreneurs, impact investors and mission-driven businesses.

Our Partners

Thames Reach

Thames Reach is a London-based charity dedicated to helping people escape homelessness

Thames Reach’s mission is to assist homeless and vulnerable people to find decent homes, build supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives.

Greater London Authority (GLA)

The Mayor of London provides leadership and creates policies to improve London for all. deliver housing solutions for rough sleepers and those fleeing domestic abuse.

We are being supported by the Mayor’s office to deliver their rough sleepers accommodation programme.

The Home Office

We work in partnership to accommodate those seeking asylum in the UK.

The Home Office is the lead UK government department for immigration and passport; this includes asylum & resettlement policy and practice.

Local Authorities

We work in partnership with local authorities by providing long term housing solutions.

Our partnership with local authorities, both in London and Greater Manchester can be traced to our inception.

Our Advisers

Centrus Financial

“Centrus is an independent financial services group that believes in finance with purpose.

We specialise in corporate finance, analytics and investment management across sectors of specific expertise that have tangible benefits to the real economy.”

Social Finance

Social Finance is a not for profit organisation that partners with governments, service providers, the voluntary sector and the financial community to find better ways of tackling social problems in the UK and globally.

Social Finance have been working with us for a period of time, advising, modelling and brokering relationships with investors and partners alike.

Devonshires

The Devonshires Banking team are advising Cromwood Housing Limited on procuring long term debt arrangements from an institutional investor and their Real Estate team are advising in respect of our leasehold arrangements with our landlords.

Campbell Tickell

A multi-disciplinary management consultancy that have been advising us on key strategic junctures as we experience rapid growth.

Established for over 20 years, Campbell Tickell advises organisations across the not-for-profit,  public, and private sectors, including: central and local government, housing associations, care providers, sports and leisure bodies, charities, as well as housebuilders, developers, contractors and legal firms.

Beever and Struthers

Specialist accountants and business advisors. Highly regarded for their work with registered providers of social housing.

Beever and Struthers are our appointed accountants.

(Correct as on 4th May 2022)

Detailed below is a list of some of our key policies.

Copies of these policies can be requested using the contact form opposite.

Social Value Policy

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy

Anti-Bribery Policy

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

Sustainability Policy

Environmental Policy

Complaints Policy

Contact

OUR VISION:

“Being able to provide a place someone can call home, where they can rest, receive support and plan for their future.”

Deliver sustainable social impact through the creation of innovative housing solutions that are ethically bound and financially sound, ultimately saving public money.

Our social impact ambitions are:

  • Reduce homelessness
  • Eradicate rough sleeping
  • Support the vulnerable
  • Promote wellbeing

We create impact through:

  • Housing projects
  • Tackling rough sleeping
  • Providing support
  • Enabling independence

Impact stories:

“It was life changing, I’m a lot happier”

“It’s not just a roof over my head, it’s my home”

Impact reports: