St Leger Homes of Doncaster: 32 new housing acquisitions by council housing provider in 2025/26, says exec
St Leger Homes of Doncaster has expanded the city’s social housing stock with 32 housing acquisitions in 2025/26 so far, the organisation’s chief executive has said.
Chris Margrave told the City of Doncaster Council Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) that St Leger Homes of Doncaster (SLHD) has spent £4million on property acquisitions to date during this financial year.
He said: “That works out at about £125,000 per property. This year we have been a little bit more stringent on the criteria that we use for properties.
“We’re trying to get properties that have limited investment required, hence the amounts are a little bit lower than last time.”
In 2024/25, SLHD purchased 64 properties at a cost of £8million – again approximately £125,000 per property.
“In addition to that, the council purchased St George’s Crescent, so that was a bulk acquisition of 55 flats there for £3.2m. That worked out at just £58,000 per property,” Mr Margrave said.
“Clearly, there’s some additional investment required to bring those up to standard, but I’m sure you will agree that represents good value for money,” he added.
“We won’t pay a premium for a property.”
Mr Margrave, who was appointed SLHD chief executive in May 2024, explained some of the difficulties SLHD faces when looking to make housing acquisitions is being outbid by private buyers.
He told OSMC members: “In more popular areas it’s quite difficult for us to be competitive.
“We won’t pay a premium for a property. It would be market value only, so if it’s in a popular area and somebody really, really wants that, we would get outbid on that.”