My RHA
A key role
25th May 2023 | posted in News
As a teenager studying Applied Social Science at University, Sharon Thomas had little interest at the time in housing and opted for a module on the history of housing because of her love of history.
Little did she know it was the first step into a career that has seen her play a key role in the regeneration of North-East housing.
“I didn’t know housing was a topic, let alone a career it just sounded interesting,” she said. “I have always been fascinated in the central role housing has played in our history, through the architecture, the impact on the economy, slum clearances and regeneration,” said Sharon.
As Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Thirteen Group, Sharon is responsible for the growth of the company that currently oversees 35,000 homes across the North-East and Yorkshire.
She hopes her role on the board of the Railway Housing Association can help share best practice within the sector.
“Railway Housing has around 1,500 homes - so we operate on different scales and I’m sure there are things we can learn from each other,” she said.
Having worked in various housing roles with Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough Councils, Sharon is better placed than most to understand the challenges the sector faces locally.
It’s a busy time with housing associations having to consider recommendations from the Grenfell Report, the recent Housing White Paper and the move to decarbonisation.
And the recent inquest findings following the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak, a child in Rochdale who died from respiratory problems caused by damp, mouldy housing, bring into sharp focus the need for Housing Associations to ensure they provide quality homes.
“Looking ahead there’s certainly a lot to plan for, however our priority is our existing customers.” said Sharon.
“There’s been a major change over recent decades in the way customers are treated and that’s very much for the good,” said Sharon. “Instead of housing managers now we have customer service officers. Customers should expect more choice, appointments that suit them and work delivered on time and to a high standard.”
The move to a carbon free economy by 2050 includes a series of stepping-stones that housing associations and house builders need to meet. This includes a ban on gas fuelled boilers in new builds by 2025 and then the decarbonisation of existing homes.
“That brings in alternatives such as air source heat pumps and solar panels however we have to be acutely aware that homes need to be affordable not only to buy or rent but also to live in,” said Sharon.
Sharon is a keen genealogist and has used DNA research to help trace her family history and track down some relatives she never knew she had.
“It’s been fascinating to trace these roots and make contact with relatives. When I retire I hope to do a post graduate degree in genealogy” she said.
But right now there’s a more pressing challenge as Sharon has entered a “Total Warrior” event this summer. An endurance event that takes in running and obstacles and a lot of mud.
“I’ve done one park run about ten years ago and I’ve been to the gym once in the past two months so I need to get a move on,” she said.
