TWO of the region’s largest housing providers have teamed up to offer a large scale house swap scheme that could benefit more than 800 residents.

Spectrum Housing Group and Magna Housing Association are working together on the scheme, which they say will offer an improved service for housing association residents.

David Aldwinckle, Magna director, said: “We were keen to swap a number of properties so we could focus on a limited number of local authority areas and provide a better service to residents in those areas.”

Both organisations consulted with residents who would be affected by the transfer over ten weeks.

Bryn Shorey, property services director at Spectrum, said: “This transfer is all about strengthening our role in local communities and providing more effective services in a tighter geography. We know Magna, like ourselves, is committed to working with their residents so this swap was a good strategic fit. I am sure it will be in the best interests of all our residents.”

Spectrum Housing Group has taken ownership and management of around 400 homes in Devon, Bournemouth, Poole, East Dorset and Purbeck, previously owned by Magna Housing Association.

In return, Magna is taking ownership and management of 400 homes in West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, previously owned by Spectrum.

This is part of a wider strategy for both organisations to deliver a more efficient, local service to their residents by concentrating their properties in areas close to their offices.