Merger Update: Bespoke Supportive Tenancies and Westmoreland Supported Housing

Following a period of consultation, both Boards have agreed to move forward with the merger between Bespoke Supportive Tenancies (BeST) and Westmoreland Supported Housing.

This means we are now working to bring the two organisations together to form a single, stronger Registered Provider called Portus Supported Housing Limited.

The merger is planned to take place on 1st December 2025. From that date, our new organisation will be known as Portus Supported Housing.

We have written to all tenants and their appointees on 14th October with further information. You can read a copy of that letter here.

What this means for you

At this stage, nothing changes. Your tenancy, rent, services and repairs will continue exactly as they do now.

Once the merger is complete, we will write to you again to confirm that the merger has taken place and provide everything you need to know about Portus Supported Housing.

The merger will help us to improve services, strengthen support for tenants, and make better use of our resources. Here is what you can expect:

• Extra resources - We will have more Housing Officers, Surveyors and customer-focused staff to support your needs and improve your overall experience.
• Improved customer focus - We will spend more time engaging with you and being present in communities to build stronger relationships and better understand your needs.
• More choice and opportunity - BeST currently manages over 1,400 homes across England and Wales, and Westmoreland has over 1,000 homes in similar areas. Together, this means more choice and greater access to suitable accommodation.
• Better repair services - Combining our resources will help us deliver a more responsive and efficient repairs service and achieve better value for money.
• Stronger financial position - The merger will create a more financially secure organisation, enabling us to provide better value and long-term stability.
• New customer strategy - We will develop a new customer strategy giving tenants, carers and appointees more opportunities to share your views and shape how services are delivered.

What happens next

There is no immediate change to your tenancy or services. We will write to you again in December to confirm that the merger has been completed and provide more information about Portus Supported Housing.

We understand that change can sometimes feel unsettling. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch:

Call us: 0161 786 6000 (option 5). Leave a message with your question and a convenient time for us to call you back.
Email us: MergerConsultations@bestha.co.uk

FAQs

You can view our frequently asked questions here