THE housing management firm Poole Housing Partnership (PHP) has formally applied to be struck off the register. 

The council-owned firm will finally be dissolved after its staff and assets were transferred to BCP Homes in July 2022 following the merger of the three councils. 

PHP was founded in 2004 during the days of Poole Borough Council and was set up to provide “high quality” housing management services to Poole’s residents. 

Its last year of full trading in 2021/22 was described as “challenging” by its former chairman Robert Webber. 

He said: "The tail of the pandemic coincided with an acceleration in BCP Council’s review of the future of housing services across its three main neighbourhoods. 

“Despite the uncertainty this review created and the need to adapt to a ‘new normal’, PHP delivered yet another set of excellent financial results.” 

Bournemouth Echo:

Some of the firm’s greatest hits include the 62-bedroom scheme in Canford Heath Road and maintaining six tower blocks in its final year. 

In 2021/22, PHP posted a net surplus of £67,483 and had 183 residents involved with the firm, according to documents submitted to Companies House. 

But PHP’s board reported a loss before interest and taxation of £1.341m in 2021/22 from a turnover of £9.408m. 

Meanwhile, BCP Homes was set up with the formation of PHP, Bournemouth’s old housing service and BCP’s housing team. 

Read more: Poole Housing Partnership won’t be dissolved after hundreds of tenants plead for it to stay

Today, the council owns more than 9,500 rented homes and has 1,153 leasehold properties in Bournemouth and Poole. Together, they are believed to generate an income of around £55m.  

There are no council owned Housing Revenue Account properties in Christchurch as these were transferred to a housing association several years ago. 

In a summary of the PHP’s full accounts from 2022, its former chief executive officer Su Spence said that there is “much to be proud of” from the 18 years of operational service. 

She added: “The organisation leaves behind an empowered and enabled residents body that will certainly continue to expect the best and that feels like the best legacy of all for a social housing provider to be proud of.”