'Unfair Competition' Claims Over Ealing Housing Association
A2 Dominion are abusing their position say local businesses
Concern has been raised that an Ealing based social housing association is gaining an unfair advantage in the property rental market.
Estate agents say A2 Dominion have 'dressed up' their headquarters on the Uxbridge Road to market their properties and claim they could be in breach of various regulations.
A2 Dominion HQ
A2 Dominion is one of the largest social housing companies in London with a portfolio of over 38,000 properties. They say, 'While we take a commercial approach to housebuilding, all profits we generate are reinvested to support our social purpose, helping to deliver more homes and services for customers.'
However there has been growing unease from local property agents who say the A2 Dominion headquarters is an office building - a B1 classification and not retail/estate agent which requires an A2 certificate, and believe they could be in breach of planning regulations.
The company is planning 183 new homes as part of the controversial Hastings Road, 25-storey tower block development - a third would be 'affordable' the rest can be rented at market rate.
An agent, who doesn't wish to be named, said, 'If this is the road they are going down it throws up to me Competition and Markets Authority implications. They will be able to market Hastings Road properties through their HQ. Given they are a state funded housing association operating against independent businesses such as myself – I think it would be safe to acknowledge it could be an abuse of dominant market position.'
A2 property marketing. Picture: Liz Jenner
Ealing's Council Leader Julian Bell rents a flat from A2 Dominion and Cllr Bassam Mahfouz is employed by the company.
Steve Michaux, A2Dominion’s Director of Residential Services, said, “As a housing association, we manage a wide range of homes including for private and affordable rent. This helps us to fund our social purpose; the creation of new homes and housing services for people who need them most.
“The display in the window of our Ealing office simply showcases the different types of housing that we already offer and the function of our main reception remains unchanged.
“Any visits from residents, business partners and members of the public continue to be dealt with in exactly the same way, via the main reception and our various housing teams.”
Ealing Council say they haven't received any complaints about A2 Dominion.
January 1, 2020